Saints have said it was an Arsenal fan sat in the Saints end. http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/30651522
Never thought I'd write this as an opening line for a report on Saints... http://www.saintsweb.co.uk/content.php?543-MATCH-REPORT-SAINTS-2-0-Arsenal
Won't need the Dubious Goals Panel to decide the scorer of the first goal, Mertersacker says it was scored by "The Wind"!
Great win for Saints, what a great start to this year! No player had a bad day, but I'll pick a few from the bunch. Forster saved us brilliantly on two occasions, he obviously enjoys playing Arsenal, remember the last game when he was also impervious. Bertrand, what a player. He created three great chances today, outstanding delivery with his left foot. Ward-Prowse was superb and should have had a hattrick today, he needs to work on his composure in front of the goal, but he's young, he'll get there. And lastly, Big Vic. My god I was amazed in that instance when he intercepted the ball and prevented Arsenal hitting us on the counter, and then went on to dribble his way through three Arsenal player with such trickery one Ronaldinho would be proud of. But for me today's MOTM was Koeman. His changes throughout the game, from formation to personnel, were spot on and this game is a tactical masterclass by Koeman. He first deployed us in a 4-4-2 or 4-4-1-1 with Alderweireld on right back, Vic and Davis in the central midfield, Tadić and JWP wide, and Mane playing just off the big man Pelle. We played the similar way against Chelsea. Personally I don't particularly like this formation, I think it stiffens us and makes us less fluid, but you can see that Koeman in counting on Mane-Pelle partnership which is creating goals at the moment, so you can't argue with that really. So here is how we started the game: (few notes; I've drawn these formations for a croatian forum, so some names are altered - for Forster it says Gorštak, which is croatian for highlander, which is my nickname for him . It also says Tadara for Tadić, again a nickname.) please log in to view this image So when Mane got injured, Koeman brought on Reed and changed the tactics to 4-2-3-1, with Reed and Wanyama in central holding roles, JWP in front of them, Tadić and Davis on the sides and Pelle up front. This was I thought the best period of the match for us, we created many chances, mostly through JWP. Tadić was also very influential. Reed and Wanyama were impenetrable. please log in to view this image And then finally, when Gardos earned a yellow card, Koeman substituded him for Yoshida, and he changed Tadić for Long . These changes meant we went back to the initial formation (4-4-1-1), but the pack was very shuffled and it's the use of personnel here that's most impressive, not the formation itself. Long slotted into Mane's role behind Pelle, Wanyama and Reed remained in central midfield, but JWP made a return from the central offensive midfield role to wide right, and Davis made his third position change in the same match, from the central midfield where he started ove right wing and finally to wide left. Amazing! Also Yoshida replaced Alderweireld ar right back while he went to his central defense position. please log in to view this image And also these changes were made without breaking the play or making us stutter, every player his role knew perfectly all the time. In his time with us so far Koeman tried probably every tactics from the book either as a starting formation or as a variation through the match, and the lads always knew perfectly well how to play and what to do. Hail the master tactician! please log in to view this image
Yes, I liked that, and he said it with the conviction of a man that had just seen Saints beat Arsenal!
Saw the Two Bob incident and must give the Referee the benefit of the doubt. Had Gardos not made the tackle, Fonte would have got there, and the ball was running away from Sanchez, a close call, but lucky for us the right one, another day, a different Referee, it would unquestionably have been different, so close to a Penalty too. I think it is time we drew back some of our Good Luck deficit.
The Mirror (yes, I know) seem to think that Sadio was injured in the celebrations? Anyone else think that?
He had a whole pile of players on top of him and he's not very big, but not for me. I think it was the turn he made before the shot that did his hamstring, or pulled something anyway.
Watched the game on Match Choice. There were periods of Arsenal dominance, but we spurned some superb chances...could have been made to pay. Forster had a great game, two saves in particular. Mane's goal was superb...scored when Arsenal must have thought they'd pushed him safely away. Why the goalie kicked the ball to Tadic, when he had 2 Arsenal players shielding him, only he could say. He had previously made 2 good saves with his feet...perhaps it went to his head. Good result. Koeman is nothing short of a genius and so are the team that got this team together.
A brilliant through ball by Vic to Steve Davis was a "hopefull lofted pass" apparently, according to MoD Commentator?
If that is the case that type of injury is usually 2-3 weeks out. I would have thought that would preclude him going away on international duty (but the net result would him being available earlier for us. On a side point I wonder what the justification for no red card for Gardos is. A fortunate decision that...
