Despite needing to bounce back after the defeat to Manchester United last weekend, Arsenal showed very little desire to do so against Southampton.
Arsenal fans’ fury has been reignited after another shambolic display away to Southampton. It seems as if the passion we harnessed when we beat Spurs has dissolved and we’ve reverted to how we were playing earlier in the campaign against the likes of Watford.
Charlie Austin put Arsenal on the back foot from the third minute after Per Mertesacker, who was standing in for the injured Shkodran Mustafi, fell over and allowed the Southampton man to run through.
Two minutes later, the centre-back was caught out again as Austin fired at our goal but this time Petr Cech kept it out.
A third strike from Austin what felt like seconds later was fortunately called offside after it bounced off the post. It was let-off for Arsenal who were a defensive shambles – just like they had been against Manchester United last weekend.
Almost as if heavily praising the team despite being defensive wank monkeys against United wasn't the most constructive of strategies
— Daily Cannon (@DailyCannon) December 10, 2017
Would quite like to know what percentage of our conceded goals this season have come from personal errors.
— Terje (@ArsenalTerje) December 10, 2017
This defensive system doesn't work. The statistics never supported it, they always suggested we were lucky not to concede more, and now we aren't getting lucky.
— Dan Critchlow (@afcDW) December 10, 2017
https://twitter.com/theavgkid_/status/939829385250533376
At the other end, the Saints were compact and disciplined at the back. The Gunners’ tentative attacks during the opening exchanges for snuffed out before they even really began and the home side were looking confident.
Every time Southampton – or more specifically – Ryan Bertrand got the ball, they were steaming up the other end and looked dangerous. Whereas, when Arsenal got the ball, they tapped it around coolly, not really troubling their opposition.
Alexandre Lacazette did have a chance to get a shot away after Alexis Sanchez fizzed a ball in and Aaron Ramsey passed it to the striker in the box. However, he was crowded by Southampton players and his shot was saved.
The Gunners then had the chance to attack at pace after Southampton had a corner. However, Hector Bellerin misjudged his cross, picking out Laca on the break instead of Mesut Ozil who was in acres of space to the Frenchman’s right. Again, a last-ditch tackle was made by the Saints to deny the 26-year-old.
Last touch was shocking but that would have been an unbelievable goal on the break.
— Arsène's Son (@hughwizzy) December 10, 2017
Ozil was the right pass there. Poor from Hector
— JB™ (@gunnerpunner) December 10, 2017
Rambo managed to get a shot away in the box but he scuffed the ball, so it rolled right at the goalkeeper.
Despite warming into the game, Arsenal weren’t looking massively dangerous. In fact, they were looking static, slow and sleepy.
Arsene Wenger sent his substitutes to warm up with just 20 minutes on the clock.
Can't believe the referee started the game before the Arsenal players turned up smh agenda
— Iman | ايمان (@nana_alaouie) December 10, 2017
We're so fuckin slow.
— ArsenalDownUnda (@ArsenalDownUnda) December 10, 2017
Austin had another chance at close-range but there were too many bodies in the way and Cech collected the loose ball.
Then it was Arsenal’s turn again as the game stretched. Ozil was the only player performing as he drove the attack forward. He passed to Alexis but the Chilean lost the ball after holding on to it and attempting to dribble into the box. Seconds later, Ozil fired the ball back into the area after the Gunners won it back but then it got caught up underneath Laca’s feet.
Rambo almost scored again but Fraser Forster pushed the shot wide.
Not another world class goalie display please …….
— Lucy (@Lucygooner) December 10, 2017
Feel like we get a disproportionate amount of games against Forster where he’s not utter shit.
— SuperFlan (@Flannyballs) December 10, 2017
We look fine just another example of us doing ourselves no favors conceding idiotic goals
— Kelly au Julii (@kemgooner) December 10, 2017
Laca had another shot in the 41st minute but the striker suffered a heavy challenge and the ball bounced out off a Southampton player for a corner. A penalty wasn’t given.
STONEWALL PENALTY FFS HE WAS LATE ON LACA
— HotGooneretteChick (@KIIDOU) December 10, 2017
Penalty ??? Fuck off ref #SFCvAFC
— Suhel GMZ (@SuhelGMZ) December 10, 2017
Unless I’m mistaken with the rules, shouldn’t that be a stonewall penalty?
— Dan (@Dan_AFC94) December 10, 2017
How is that not a penalty?!??! #SOUARS
— Jazzman (@LundeJesper) December 10, 2017
Arsenal went in 1-0 at half-time, looking the weaker team. Even though the game had calmed down compared to the first frantic few minutes, when the Saints could have been 3-0 ahead, the home side were still piling on the pressure and Austin in particular looked deadly every time he got forward.
Arsenal were once again wasteful with the ball and despite having five shots, they’d only really threatened Forster once.
Ozil aside, we’ve been utter shit. No idea what the plan is at all.
— S (@wood10_) December 10, 2017
MAKE SOME CHANGES pic.twitter.com/NmU12K2axm
— Anita (@arsenaloFka) December 10, 2017
Arsenal started the second half stronger, pushing the Saints back and tapping the ball around the area. However, they were so ‘patient’ with their build-up play that they gave away possession, allowing the home side to attack again.
1000000 passes outside the box. 0 shots and no fucking player to make that sharp decisive decision. We need Wilshere & Giroud on. ASAP.
— ♥️ S A D I A H ♥️ (@TheGoonerette) December 10, 2017
As much as Arsenal tried to look as if they were pushing for a goal, they didn’t actually look that lively. Whereas the Saints continued to threaten with the few attacks they had.
Oriol Romeu hit the bar with a long-range shot in the 62nd minute after Mertesacker didn’t even attempt to close him down. The German was promptly subbed off.
Danny Welbeck came on in his place as Wenger changed formation.
Sooner after, a shot from Bertrand bounced past Cech’s post after a cock-up from Laurent Koscielny.
And with that, Jack Wilshere was brought on. Much to the delight of Arsenal fans who recognised how much we needed an injection of passion and creativity.
Granit Xhaka was taken off.
I’m absolutely not screaming for Jack Wilshere
— Charteta (@Charley2385) December 10, 2017
Arsenal away fans finally get their wish granted as Jack Wilshere comes on for Xhaka.
— Chris Wheatley (@ChrisWheatley_) December 10, 2017
Followed by Olivier Giroud, who came on in place of Laca, much to Gooners’ confusion…
Buy £50m striker to score goals. Sub him off when you need them. #TheArsenalWay
— Daily Cannon (@DailyCannon) December 10, 2017
There's no way Alexis has any human friends
— JB™ (@gunnerpunner) December 10, 2017
How the fuck is Alexis staying on the pitch
— Charteta (@Charley2385) December 10, 2017
Alexis Sanchez could boot the ball out of the stadium and he would still blame it on someone else not making a run
— Arsenal Tickets (@arsenal_tickets) December 10, 2017
Özil chasing back after Alexis loses the ball, who is on the floor throwing his hands up
— Sai** (@knickthoughts) December 10, 2017
Sanchez with another disaster-class. Still immune to getting subbed.
— Pablo (@AFCAMDEN) December 10, 2017
Atom & Humber need to do an exposé on Alexis
— JB™ (@gunnerpunner) December 10, 2017
Despite all their possession, the Gunners continued to do absolutely nothing. Just like against United, we had plenty of attempts to get forward but seemed allergic to actually scoring. It was boring, frustrating and embarrassing.
Team lacking ideas. Often you see a line of attacking players standing with their back-to-goal, not necessarily between-the-lines, and the ball is played up to them because it might be seen as progressive, when it fact, it's static.
— Arsenal Column (@ArsenalColumn) December 10, 2017
One-touch move from back to front, until Sanchez gets it. He dawdles, makes a terrible decision, and Southampton should score on the counter. It's every time, in every game. He is rubbish.
— Jonny Singer (@Jonny_Singer) December 10, 2017
We genuinely deserve nothing from today.
— Huss (@HussIsmail8) December 10, 2017
A late goal from super-sub Giroud saved Arsenal a point but they didn’t even deserve that.
The problem is, we seem to have reverted back to the way we were playing pre-North London Derby and no one’s doing anything to change it.
Back to square one and fans aren’t happy.