EPL: Shane long scores twice as Southampton rout Arsenal 4-0

It was Arsene Wenger’s side’s first Boxing Day defeat in 16 years and, perhaps most frustratingly, denied them athe chance to go top of the Premier League following Leicester’s defeat to Liverpool earlier on Saturday.

Things got even better for the rejuvenated Saints with just over 20 minutes remaining as James Ward-Prowse swung a vicious corner into a risky area that Jose Fonte attacked with more vigour than any Arsenal defender to plant a powerful header home from close range.

Backup right back, Cuco Martina, chose the right match to show his quality with a spectacular low volley in the 19th minute.

After the break, the Gunners continued to toil, with Shane Long making it 2-0 to the hosts, albeit after Laurent Koscielny had been fouled in the build-up.

“I don’t much take too much notice of the scoreline in my consideration but we lost too many challenges, they were sharper than us”, he said. “I’ve got a lot of memories at the stadium and at the club so it’s always a game I look forward to when it comes around to it. “We’ve improved our character in the team (since last season)”.

That desire was clear from Long, but not from numerous Arsenal players.

“To win these sorts of game, you need to believe you can do it. Overall what came out of the game was a strong team attitude and strong team effort”.

Winning games like this one at Southampton will be imperative for the Gunners if they have any serious hopes of lifting the trophy that has eluded them for over ten years.

The Saints are struggling at the moment and a 2-0 defeat at home to Tottenham last weekend extended their run of games without a win to five (D1, L4). If Arsene Wenger doesn’t win it this season he has to go.

Petr Cech could do absolutely nothing to stop it, and after an abject start to the first half we found ourselves behind. 1-0. “We lost too many challenges and that explains why we lost the game”.

12 – If we look at turnovers it’s a similar story: take out Mane’s insane 8 turnovers and Southampton had just 4 all day.

“Tonight we were not good enough to win the game”.

Wenger said: ‘We were a bit unlucky because all the goals were debatable.

“Manchester City were outstanding against them for half an hour but still never looked like scoring, and after that Arsenal picked their pocket”.

When the visitors broke away, Aaron Ramsey’s clever disguised pass reached Nacho Monreal, whose deflected cross nearly drifted over the head of Maarten Stekelenburg.