Three Things We Learned from Arsenal v Southampton

When was the last time we won 3 league matches in a row? Honestly I don’t know and for some time it looked a little dicey. But we came away with the points and even with B team players on the pitch we managed to add to Southampton’s seasonal woes.

So what exactly are the Three Things We Learned from yesterday’s 3-2 win versus Southampton?

Home Is Where the Heart Is.

It was another win at home and the 3-2 score line meant that Arsenal have gone 13-2-2. Conversely when you look at our away record, 3-4-8 you just shake your head.  What it is it about playing at home, especially in the current environment that makes the Gunners better?

It’s a complicated question. It’s not just down to the hostile environment of being away from home. There is also likely a tactical reason as more opponents tend to pressure us when they play us on their own pitch. And as such we don’t have a midfielder who can help the team beat that press and play through the lines.

It also has something to do with the manager and a lack of preparation for an opponent – especially on the road. There have been moments where Arsene has adjusted the team’s playing style to suit the opponent. But those moments are fleeting and usually against bigger sides. Against the “lesser” teams, he doesn’t. He figures he will over power them with his possession and attack and all else be damned. But in this modern game you can’t just depend on a system of play to rescue you. You have to be prepared – but I digress – that’s for another article.

If not for our home form, we’d be in relegation trouble. Really. More than 73% of our points are coming from wins at home. We’re averaging close to 3 goals a game in the league (2.65) s and conceding just over 1 per game (1.12).

In the last 5 games at home in all competitions, we’ve scored 16 and only allowed 4. In the league we’ve scored 45 at home vs 16 away. If we could even get another 10 goals away we’d be a lot better off than we are today.

The results at home also fly in the face of those who say fan attitudes are hurting the players. If you haven’t seen the Emirates is empty. Fans are unhappy. They are voicing their displeasure (booing at half time last week.) Yet, despite all that Arsenal have one of the best home records in the league.

Jack Wilshere

No witty sub head here. Most of us have a soft spot for the man we all thought could become the next “Mr. Arsenal.” Sadly, due to injury and its effect on his progression, he is likely never going to fulfill that promise.

Look at the biggest moment featuring him yesterday, the shirt ripping, shiver the back of the head that saw Jack Stephens see red as well as Mohamed Elneny (really????) It all started because Jack made another poor pass and go frustrated and went after Stephens.

The fact is the match was littered with these poor Jack moments. Making passes with his head down, poor touches and overall not impacting play.

The worse thing about it? He was only involved for 26 minutes.

And it’s not just one game. We’re seeing it all the time. Once thought to be the next great English midfielder, he’ll be lucky to be the next great English cab driver.

Jack wants a new contract and he wants to be paid for his perceived ability level. The fact is his perceived level isn’t matching up the level Arsenal need it to be. On the body of work right now, Jack will be lucky to get a better deal anywhere. If he wants to stay at Arsenal – and I am not sure he should be kept – then he needs to markedly step up his game.

Defense wins or loses matches.

In the case of Arsenal it usually is the defense that loses us a match not wins it for us. I want to go back to the second goal yesterday and the free kick that happened just before it. The minute I saw us set up, I said they were going to score.

It wasn’t from some worry about set pieces but more from what I was seeing in the 18. Specifically, I saw Shane Long out wide without anyone checking to see who was there. Not a single player bothered to look over their shoulder and see where he is and while isn’t that involved in the play – and when Chambers gets a poor touch because he has no idea Long is behind him he loses the battle and Long keeps the play alive.

It was a simple moment and maybe not one many maybe paid attention to. But to me it signified we were switched off and not organized.  Three defenders are clumped to the middle, when Southampton hurriedly takes the free kick. Kolasinac looks lost as the ball squibbles out and neither him or Jack put pressure on the ball and the ensuing movement into the box leads to the goal.

All season long we’ve been prone to absolutely Sunday league style defending that kills us. Poor body position, not quickly closing down the space, allowing attackers inside the defender with a clear chance on goal – no matter what it is – we simply look like we have no idea what to do and no one back there takes control of it.

Our attack is sorted out just fine. If we could do something about this defense we might get back to the exalted rarified air of the Champion’s League qualifying teams.

https://streamable.com/rr25h

Extra Time

Pierre Emeirck Aubameyang will win the golden boot next season

First Arsenal player to score 6 goals in their first 5 matches.

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