‘Endless errors are killing us’

RALPH HASENHUTTL defended his decision to start without a recognised striker and drop England goalkeeper Alex McCarthy after Southampton’s defensive horror show at the Emirates.

The Austrian manager saw the th recalled Angus Gunn concede co two early goals in a defeat d that leaves Saints stuck in the drop zone.

They created chances – Nathan N Redmond was denied by Bernd Leno just 30 seconds before Arsenal’s opener – but both Gunners goals came from poor defending and they could have scored six.

Centre-back Jack Stephens was hooked at half-time and Hassenhutl (above) belatedly put on two strikers.

He said: “We saw a good start st from our team, had the first fi big chance – a very, very big chance – and then on the counter-attack co you are 1-0 behind. That’s horrible, for the mentality, the worst thing that can happen in that moment.

“Then the second goal was a horrible mistake in a zone we didn’t have to take any risks in, and against such a team they’re killing you.

“After this it was easy for them to play. We haven’t been able to stop these kind of mistakes but believe me, we will do everything to stop this – we have to.”

McCarthy had failed to keep a clean sheet in 13 matches since his England debut in November, while Gunn kept Southampton’s only clean sheet in 18 at Stamford Bridge last month.

“I was expecting a similar game to Chelsea against a very dominant opponent with quick strikers to come behind the last line,” Hassenhutl said. “I think today he made a few very good saves – with the two goals he had no chance.”