It’s Not Over – Olivier Giroud Rallies Arsenal Following Southampton Draw

Petr Cech admits Arsenal are playing “catch up” in the Premier League following Tuesday’s goalless draw with Southampton at the Emirates Stadium.

A four-game winless streak in the league has seen Wenger’s men slip to fourth in the table after Tottenham’s 3-0 victory over Norwich City.

Several newspapers reported Wenger was involved in a spat with both referee Lee Mason and Southampton counterpart Koeman in the tunnel after the final whistle.

“If you knew a world-class striker who could strengthen our team you should have told me before the transfer deadline was over”, Wenger quipped.

Koeman witnessed the exchange and confronted Wenger before replying: “It’s always the same with you”.

“Some players missed some chances that usually they take”, he said.

“The chances we created were of good enough quality to finish the game”.

With 14 games left of the Premier League season Arsenal need to start scoring goals if they are serious about winning the League. “That differential explains the 0-0”.

As they had at Stoke last month, Arsenal came up against a young English goalkeeper in superb form as Forster produced a succession of fine saves. “I believe top quality people respond when they are in trouble”. At the end of the day we came out with no goals.

Midfielder Mesut Ozil squandered two close-range opportunities in the first half, while replacement Theo Walcott was held out by a spectacular double-save from Southampton’s goalkeeper Fraser Forster after the break.

Though Koeman certainly isn’t the first man who springs to mind when you think of Arsene’s managerial nemeses (that’s Jose Mourinho, obviously), the Dutchman has a remarkably good record against his French counterpart.

“The message (this time) is that we play at home and we want to put a strong performance in because the strength we show at home now in the remaining games can be decisive”.

He said: “Normally we are defending better than we were but the season is hard, we have got the confidence back”. With 68% possession and 21 shots, 11 on target, the Gunners could not score a vital goal.