Match Day Thread Arsenal v Southampton Wednesday 16/12/20 6pm Amazon Prime

They ended up with a back 9 nearly.

 

I think we were brilliant in phases, but not throughout. We were struggling a bit before the red card too.

Thought we played well but by no stretch would I say it was unbelievable. Think people are forgetting how bad Arsenal are.

 

We did not outplay Arsenal after the first 30 minutes. I thought they edged it after that. Good result and decent performance. However without the first 30 the second 60 would have looked stark.

 

Arsenal probably would have gone on to win if they kept 11 men on the pitch, but I can’t help but be annoyed with the result. It’s those kinds of games you need to be winning if we want to get back into Europe again, or even better the top four.

I know it seems optimistic to say top four, but with the usual suspects dropping points more often, we need to turn this type of result into a win if we are to stay up there all season.

 

Interesting mix of opinions. I’m not feeling too bad, but think someone had a point when saying we should of gone for the jugular, as their confidence is brittle. Maybe energy levels not quite there added with Ings lack of sharpness.

 

Arteta just spoke very well. No moaning about sending off, ref or bad luck. Said we were a really difficult side to play against. Respect.

 

It is also worth remembering that, despite Arsenal's terrible form and atmosphere at the club, they still have a number of extremely talented individuals.

Their goal for example came from one of the brightest young prospects in the country making a brilliant individual run and riding 3 challenges well - only to be finished off by last year's 2nd top scorer and £250k+ a week Aubameyang!

Yes we should have won but that is not a bad result at all!!!

 

I think you're forgetting that it's arsenal away. Even at their worst, they have players that can hurt anyone.

Cracking point, great performance. The sending off meant they sat back which probably hindered us.. Just don't understand the negativity when we are 3rd.

We were going for the jugular, we just played against a 10 man defense made up of defenders on hundreds of grand a week

 

Theo is taking over from Prowsey for being in front of the camera. Speaks well and enthusiastically. He expects a reaction from the team against City as they are disappointed by the dropping of points.

 

Not the result either of us wanted, but in the circumstances, a point will have to do just to stop the rot. I can't believe how ill-disciplined our players are. 3 red cards in 4 games .

You were much the better side in the first-half. I was very impressed. You were monopolising possession, winning all the duels and 50-50s, transitioning with speed, capitalising on our turnovers in possession, retaining the ball well, pressing us into mistakes. We started to have a few half chances toward the end of the first-half, but nothing that really troubled McCarthy. Of course, it had to be Walcott to score against us . Sod's law.

At the start of the second half, I think we started to come into it more, and it was lovely feet/improvisation by Saka to set up Aubameyang to (finally) score. Then you began to regain control of the game again. Adams had Gabriel on toast all night until the red card.

Unfortunately, against a side that is technically and physically superior to us, we needed to defend deep and just see the game out because we didn't have the outlets to get through your defence when we deployed such a low block. In saying that, we almost nicked it at the end with Holding's header. But would have been daylight robbery on the balance of play.

Nevertheless - it's a second season in a row where you can count yourselves unfortunate to not get all 3 points at our place.

Best of luck for the rest of the season, I hope you can achieve something special.

 

A little more consistency in our play and we probably would've taken all three. We were aces at times and bang average at others.

Always feel the same way about an away draw - will always take it before the game, but am generally annoyed by it after. I'm very difficult to please.

 

Yep, totally agree, especially regarding the 11. I know you could argue they would have been more open but we didn’t look great in 2nd half & I don’t think we would’ve taken the opportunity. Very disappointing we missed the chance to win but can’t be too upset with a draw. 3rd is amazing. 1st would have been just nuts. Onwards & upwards.

 

For all the doom and gloom it is worth pointing out we haven't lost an away game since the opening day of the season. Our away form continues to be downright remarkable.

 

Arsenal away isn't what it was a decade, or even half a decade, ago. If we have ambitions for Europe we absolutely need to be winning these types of matches imo.

Wouldn't say it's necessarily negativity. People are just disappointed at a huge missed opportunity.

 

It doesn't take much for you to get cross mate! Have you seen the table?

 

Do I get a point for saying “jugular?”

 

I get it, but I'm just trying to sprinkle some realism onto the place.

City drew with WBA, fulham drew with Liverpool. Teams with millions and millions struggle against a low block. Yet we created chance after chance against it, broke through the lines, had players that were willing to take chances and receive the ball in tight spaces.

Against a top 6 club that have just come off the back of a big defeat.

 

Honeatly, if anyone thinks this forum is negative just for being disappointed at a draw and a missed opportunity, should check out the #saintsfc on Twitter.

Now, that's negative to a whole new level!!

 

Case in point