Southampton 2-2 Arsenal - e-Football Report

Article by e-Arsenal Correspondent Andrew Given

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For most of yesterday I felt like I was carrying around a heavy weight on my shoulders. Sure I’d had a lousy sleep the night before and sure my diet completely sucks but this time it felt different. I always get a feeling of anxiety before Arsenal kick off and more so this season than any season in the last ten years.

Recently I have come to accept that we might not be the team that we used to be but I still have that glimmer of faith deep down inside that trusts our manager to make the right decisions but last night, against Southampton, we looked weak, tired, burned out, jaded or any other synonym you might think of.

Straight from kick off we didn’t look like the same team that had won the last 9 games on the trot. Southampton hit us straight away creating 7 attempts on goal before we even could manage 1. The Saints midfield of Schneiderlin, Lallana and Rodriguez linking up smooth, accurate passes in midfield while their back line closed quickly to disposes us when we looked like we might to able to hold onto possession.

In the 21st minute Luke Shaw played a looping cross from the left all the way to our back post where Ozil was trying to cover Fonte, that’s a mismatched pairing if I ever saw one. With our Big Friendly German nowhere in sight Fonte powered a header past Szczesny who up until that point had been solid between the sticks, there was no way he could have stopped prevented it.

Just before half time we had our first chance at goal. From a corner Mertesaker headed the ball down to Koscielny who fired at close range, unluckily Boruc was there to make the save.

Our guys were nowhere to be seen during most of the first half, Ozil, Gnabry, Cazorla all missing, something needed to be said.

We trudged in at half time looking dejected and miserable. Whatever Wenger said to his boys at half time fired them back into the team we've been watching for the last 6 months. Straight after half time our lads came out all guns blazing.

Within two minutes Sagna had sprinted down the right touchline and played a ball straight across the front of Southampton's goal. To the untrained eye it almost looks like Sagna's pass goes straight into the net but the officials' ruled that Giroud got a touch on the ball and sent it into the bottom left.

1-1 we're back in the game!

Two minutes later it's Ozil this time sprinting down the right hand side. He looks swiftly over his shoulder and plays a beautiful flick pass right in front of Giroud, who knows to leave it, and into the path of Santi Cazorla who places his shot with pin point accuracy into the bottom left, Boruc didn't have a chance.

2-1 to the Gooners!

Everything was looking rosy until two minutes later, Chambers plays a floating ball down field towards Rodriguez who catches Sagna ball watching. Instead of heading into touch Sagna lets the ball drop loses it to Rodriguez who cuts inside the box, passes through Mertesaker's legs straight to a waiting Adam Lallana who slots it away. 2-2.

All this happens in the space of 6 minutes. My head felt dizzy, passing from anxiety to elation back to anxiety so quickly has made me feel slightly nauseous but our boys can do it right? We can still do it.

Cue 20 minutes of midfield stalemate as one team tried to out pass the other, both of us getting a handful of hopeful shots on goal, including Ozil smacking the bar, but to no avail.

On the 80th minute, with frustration forever mounting, Flamini dropped a two footed challenge on Schneiderlin winning the ball but receiving a straight red card in the process.

That's how the game ran out, 2-2. Many have said today how Southampton should have won and how lucky we were to draw and I completely agree with them. We moved slow and looked weak, Southampton outplayed us.

With the end of the transfer window drawing near maybe this will give Wenger some food for thought. Yes we do have a strong , complete side but we have no options, no backup. The more our players are overplayed the more likely they are to get injured again.

I read the transfer rumours everyday in the hope that we might have signed one maybe even two players but at the moment that's all they are, rumours. Even if we did sign Draxler I'm not entirely sure if he is what we need right now. We need strength in our midfield, a Pogba or an M'Villa. We also really need a backup striker but I'll wait till the end of the week like everyone else but at the moment I won't be holding my breath.