2. Inconsistent Ozil and vital Alexis? Who really was Arsenal’s worst player against Southampton?

Picking out Arsenal’s three worst players against Southampton is like peering into a bin and trying to choose which piece of rubbish is the least shiny.

I should probably point out that I appear to have watched a completely different game to the Mirror, who seem to think that Alexandre Lacazette and Mesut Ozil struggled against the Saints.

Personally, I thought they were two of our few decent players.

They also reckon that Alexis Sanchez was the best.

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From Mirror player ratings

Granted, he did provide the assist for Olivier Giroud’s equaliser, which will inflate his stats slightly, but that’s all he did for 90 minutes. Apart from flap his arms around and shout at his teammates whenever he misplaced a pass, that is. Oh, and give the ball away over and over and over again.

It really is as if the media have forgotten the Chilean doesn’t play for Manchester City yet…

But who were the worst on the day?

Granit Xhaka

xhaka wilshere southampton
SOUTHAMPTON, ENGLAND – DECEMBER 10: Jack Wilshere replaces Granit Xhaka of Arsenal during the Premier League match between Southampton and Arsenal at St Mary’s Stadium on December 9, 2017 in Southampton, England. (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)

Xhaka hasn’t been at the races at all this season and it really showed against Southampton when he was subbed off for the more creative Jack Wilshere. We did improve.

Although the midfielder created the second-most passes (95), he offered very little.

While I realise that it’s Aaron Ramsey’s job to help drive play forward while Xhaka acts as guard dog, that doesn’t mean he has to remain stagnant for the entire game.

Per Mertesacker

mertesacker southampton
SOUTHAMPTON, ENGLAND – DECEMBER 10: Dusan Tadic of Southampton tackles Per Mertesacker of Arsenal during the Premier League match between Southampton and Arsenal at St Mary’s Stadium on December 9, 2017 in Southampton, England. (Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)

Poor Per.

I love him, I really do, but I’m glad that he’s decided to hang up his boots at the end of the season in favour of becoming head of the academy.

The German was at fault for the Saints’ only goal when he got confused and tripped over in the third minute.

If it hadn’t been for Petr Cech, we would have conceded a second in three minutes later.

Alexis Sanchez

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From Mirror player ratings

It probably won’t surprise you that the Chilean ranks as my worst player against Southampton.

Fine, I acknowledge that he assisted Giroud’s goal but that almost makes the rest of his performance even worse.

He can produce a moment of brilliance out of nothing, as we so often hear, but then he can play for 88 minutes and do little more than give the ball away and be a complete liability.

Alexis lost possession 32 times at St. Mary’s. What could we have done if he hadn’t? For the likes of the Mirror to then complain about Mesut Ozil, while naming Alexis as the best outfield player for Arsenal, makes their claims of having ‘no agenda’ laughable.

What’s more, this is a forward playing for a move to Manchester City.

All players have off games but this is getting ridiculous.

from Mirror player ratings