Match Day Thread Southampton v Arsenal Tuesday 26/1/2021 8.15pm BT Sport 1

I’m not despondent after that, Ralph will know what to tweak second half. It’s not as though we are being outplayed, we just made too many errors in that half, two of which resulted in goals. More discipline, and give the ball to Stuey as much as possible, he was easily our best player.

 

Chill out guys, we're not even playing tonight (see also, West Brom)

 

I don't think it's a coincidence that an anagram of M@rtin Keown is

O Mint W@nker

 

Judging by the score West Brom definitely aren't planning.

 

We’ve looked more than a match for arsenal. Armstrong excellent on the left. Were behind because of sloppy play, a bit of a rark up needed at the break. I’ve taken my time looking at Walcott but am slowly reaching a conclusion. Still in this game if we can get sharper.

 

Mixed half. We started very poorly but came right back into it. We dont seem to be moving about as much as normal. Arsenal pressing us, tired, or deliberately slower trying to counter our traditional 2nd half slump?

Welcome back the real Stuart Armstrong though. I've missed you.

 

I get the impression he is almost embarrassed by him as he does try to shut him up.

 

This can go two ways now; either we get a bit of a drubbing, or we get back into it and take at least a point. Either way, there’s no point sitting back because if we do that we’ll just get picked off.

 

I believe that’s the game plan tonight, pull the arsenal midfield further forward and pass around them. It’s opened up 2-3 counter attacks.

 

They need 6 more.......just saying.

 

Would rather someone threw acid in my face than watch Jack Stephen's in the 2nd half , truly woeful footballer.

 

Lets hope it works in the 2nd half. If Danny had got a good connection on that free kick .....

 

Both of those goals were utterly abysmal from us, very uncharacteristic post the Spurs game.

Even if Pepe cocked up the finish for the 1st they had 5 players inside waiting with all but one of our team miles behind them.

Also poor defending for the second, but McCarthy had an absolute horror, again rare as he has been having a really good season for the most part.

It feels like Arsenals pressing has totally caught us by surprise.

 

****ing hell





I’m all out of acid too...

 

Yep me too. I’d rather be blinded and hideously scarred than watch him make some good long passes and a crucial block or two.

 

I think it would have kept big Fraser in. He is an outstanding keeper when confident and has had three clean sheets. He also knows when fannying around at the back is stupid and puts his foot through it

 

I think there will be goals in the second half but don’t know at which end.
It is still anyone’s game.
And are Arsenal actually pressing us, in the true sense of the word, or are the CBs just taking too long to move the ball around and getting caught out?
That happened a couple of times on Saturday, not because Arsenal were pressing but because we became a little bit too casual. That seems to be half the problem tonight as by the time they try to release the ball the forward pass isn’t on.

 

So - you willing to take his place, SS? He’s not playing that badly - in fact I’d say it’s down the flanks we’re getting picked off. Stephens not playing as disastrously as you seem to think. But, then, he’s an easy target for some people ....

 

Bleach , hot water and sugar will be fine.

 

It’s nice to know that we are genuinely around the same level as Arsenal these days. That’s the standard at which we’re playing.