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DEFENDER’S GAFFE SEES THE SAINTS MARCHING THROUGH
MIKEL ARTETA’S hopes of retaining the FA Cup crumbled as his Arsenal side conceded their first goal since Boxing Day.
The Gunners had gone an impressive 508 minutes without letting one in on a six-game run. But they were second best for much of the afternoon against a Southampton side who thoroughly merited their victory and who claimed it courtesy of Gabriel’s own goal.
The Brazilian stuck out a leg to divert former Tottenham right-back Kyle Walker-Peters’ cross-shot underneath Bernd Leno midway through the first half.
And despite a marginally improved performance after the break, Arsenal never really carved out the chances they needed to get themselves back into the game, suggesting they are still lacking the creative spark they desperately require.
Arteta said: “I’m very disappointed because we wanted to continue in the competition.
“We had a dream to do it again like we did last year, step-by-step, and it is over.
“I was very disappointed with the way we conceded the goal in an area we know we shouldn’t be doing that and gave the lead to the opponent.
“But at the same time I can’t fault the effort, how they tried, how they improved throughout the game and how we tried to go for the goal but we couldn’t do it.
“I wasn’t happy with the start of the situation for their goal, we know in which areas what we have to do.
“We should not do that because we know you can get in trouble and we paid the price.”
Arsenal were caught dwelling on the ball but not just once as Southampton’s ultra-aggressive pressing gave them all sorts of problems in the first half.
Ibrahima Diallo and James Ward-Prowse pulled the strings in midfield for the home side but in front of them Danny Ings, Che Adams, Stuart Armstrong and Theo Walcott harried and hassled the visitors into making mistakes.
They will now face Wolves in the fifth round after their victory over Chorley on Friday. Boss Ralph
Hasenhuttl, who picked a strong side, was pleased with Southampton’s first-ever win against Arsenal in the competition.
He said: “In the first half we were very good after a few problems at the beginning with the pressing, we had to adjust it a little bit but then it was better after the first 10 minutes.
“Our decision-making wasn’t the best either, otherwise we could have scored a little bit more. But we invested a lot and we played a good game.”
Arteta, whose captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang travelled to Southampton but returned to London yesterday morning due to ‘personal issues,’ made changes with Willian, Nicolas Pepe and Eddie Nketiah among others starting. But none of them managed to suggest they should keep their place on Tuesday, when they are back for a Premier League game.
Willian and Pepe, in particular, were anonymous and produced performances that will have Arteta scratching his head about what he must do to get the best out of them.
The Arsenal boss had no update from Friday’s news that Martin Odegaard was close to joining on loan from Real Madrid but if he can get the deal done Arteta will be hoping the Norwegian can provide the creative spark that was missing here.
Take nothing from Southampton, though, who were unlucky not to take the lead when
Ward-Prowse hit the bar direct from a corner. It even looked like he meant it.
Gabriel Martinelli failed to connect with a Willian free-kick on the turn and volley in one of the few chances Arsenal created.
There were plenty of positives Hasenhuttl, including having Ings back.
“Having Danny back is important,” he added. “He showed how important he is for our game.” for
Forster 6; Walker-Peters 7, Bednarek 7, Stephens 7, Bertrand 7; Walcott 6, Ward-Prowse 7, Diallo 8, Armstrong 7; Ings 7 (Long 85th), Adams 7 (N’Lundulu 78th) Leno 6; Bellerin 6 (Lacazette (71st) 6, Holding 6, Gabriel 5, Soares 6; Elneny 5 (Partey (57th) 6), Xhaka 6; Pepe 5, Willian 6, Martinelli 5 (Saka (57th) 6; Nketiah 6
Ibrahima Diallo
P Bankes