Just back from the game. Excellent victory ! Manes goal was just outrageous and i thought it was a very good performance by the lads. Have to say, arsenal don't mind a dive do they ? Pathetic excuse for a team.
On the Gardos incident. It looked a red to me, but I've seen no replays. It's only a yellow if Sanchez over ran the ball and wouldn't have beaten Forster to it. It's still irrelevant. Forster was in fine form, as was our defence. Arsenal wouldn't have scored anyway.
The 90 minutes are on the way. 1st and 2nd halves in two files. 2nd half still being processed at this stage: http://www.footballorgin.com/2015/01/premier-league-2014-2015-southampton-v.html
I wasn't nervous at all. We were solid today and didn't look under pressure at any stage 2nd half. We even looked the more likely to score at the end.
I thought Red too but am a long way from the action, RonKo was very astute taking him off when he did, Maya just slotted in well too.
Listening to Wenger complain on the radio and his dismissal of the remark by the interviewer than Southampton are now genuine Topy Four contenders galled me. To be honest, I came away a bit disappointed that we only won 2-0 and James Ward-Prowse should have completed a hat-trick. Whilst Arsenal showed their ability to look threatening down the flanks, they seldom looked like scoring. Their defence was woeful, admittedly but I think that Radio Five seem to be missing the fact that Southampton were at far from their best, had some key players missing and yet still made Arsenal look extremely average. If Saints don't finish about ten points clear of Arsenal, it will be an injustice in May.
Tough call for MOTM today, but I think I'll give it to Fraser. Whilst we had Arsenal down at nil, we always had a reasonable control of the game.
Defence was really solid today, even if they had to clear up some of their own mistakes. All in all, very happy.
Another change of formation and another excellent all-round performance. One thing I have noticed all season but even more so in the last couple of games is how much we love to pass the ball compared to other teams who seem to want to beat as many players as possible before passing. Hazard did it last time out and so did Cazorla and Sanchez (and the rest) today. It could have been a high scoring game but credit our defence for being very well disciplined again. The wind made it difficult for both sides but we didn't go into panic mode like the Arse defence. A number of MOTM contenders but I think I'd give it to Forster simply because of the timing of his two best saves. It should have been 1-1 but 2 minutes later it was 2-0 and effectively, game over.
A European place for Saints is achievable and, in my opinion, finishing in the top four would be a vindication of the "Southampton way" and perhaps lead other clubs to seriously develop young, British talent. What we are doing if effectively refreshing the EPL and also churning out good results even when not playing our best or having significant squad players available. I really like young Harrison Reed but with the likes of Wanyama and the criminally under-appreciated Steven Davis alongside him, he would be working with some of the best.
Certainly right up there. I was sitting next to an Arse fan who actually jumped out of his seat (in admiration) when Wanyama did those couple of steppy over things.
