Arsenal crushed at Southampton

The Irishman was irrepressible in the second period, and could easily have had four or five goals had he taken all his chances.

“They won too many challenges for us to win the game tonight”.

“It’s down to consistency, to fight in every single game, and find the resources to produce a top-level performance in every single game”, said Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger, who is chasing a first league title since 2004. “We cannot master the referee’s decisions, but we can master our behaviour”, he said. But if you explain all the wrong decisions are normal it’s even more hard to win games.

Favourites to win the title after their 2-1 victory over Manchester City, they knew that they could go to the top of the table by beating an out-of-form Southampton after Leicester City’s defeat at Liverpool earlier in the day.

I smile, I don’t smile.

“I still think they need a holding midfielder in January though”, Merson wrote in his Daily Star column.

Mesut Ozil’s touch under Stekelenburg almost crept over the line with 10 minutes remaining, but Southampton continued to press for another goal as Long got the better of both Koscielny and Mertesacker with his pace.

Arsenal had a chance to regain sole control of the Premier League after Leicester but the Gunners fell badly and had no chance today. “But our own behaviour we can and on that front I believe Southampton looked stronger in the challenges and we lost too many”.

“We were unlucky on the first one [goal]”.

“And history is repeating itself and I just do not think that things are going to change”.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger before the Barclays Premier League match at St Mary’s, Southampton yesterday.

Koeman has confirmed defender Cedric Soares (groin) and striker Graziano Pelle (knee) will again be absent, but he will be heartened by Shane Long taking full advantage of a first-team recall in the absence of the latter by netting twice against Arsenal.

It was the hosts who came closest to adding the game’s fourth goal, however, as the woodwork spared Arsenal from further embarrassment when Long’s low effort struck the foot of the post. “He’s a different number nine than Graziano and that’s important”.

The Saints opened the scoring through Cuco Martina in the 18th minute, the right-back banging in his maiden goal for the club in his first appearance since September.

Asked why Wenger was smiling as he bemoaned a 4-0 loss, he said: “Look, I smile, I don’t smile – what can I do about it?”