Gunners’ top-four dream still alive
SOUTHAMPTON 0-2 ARSENAL
The debate surrounding Arsène Wenger remains fevered and his outspoken refusal to cede managerial power has been striking, but the most eloquent answer is still always delivered out on the pitch.
And, after what had been the most torrid period of his entire 21year tenure at Arsenal, the minirecovery continues and prompts two questions. Are we now witnessing a final twist in a saga that had left Wenger looking doomed exactly a month ago? Could Arsenal also somehow still salvage Wenger’s proud record of 20 straight topfour Premier League finishes?
It would still require his most unlikely comeback of all but the odds have again narrowed after victory here against Southampton that also lifts Arsenal above Manchester United in fifth. “Experience can help,” said Wenger, as he looked ahead to the final run-in and Saturday’s chance to pile the pressure on Liverpool.
This was Arsenal’s fourth win in five games and, should they beat Stoke City, they would move to a point behind Liverpool ahead of their visit to West Ham United on Sunday.
Alexis Sánchez again made the difference here, scoring the crucial first and also becoming the first Arsenal player since Robin van Persie in 2012 to reach 20 Premier League goals in a season. “And he scores important goals – this was not a 5-0,” noted Wenger. “The goal he scored tonight shows what he’s about: very good technique in a short space. He has invention in his head. He’s creative, not fazed by anything.”
The theme of My Way booming out over the St Mary’s speaker had felt strangely appropriate in the seconds leading up to kick-off following the Frenchman’s comments about how he will not stay at Arsenal if his powers are diluted.
Wenger will work only according to a sporting structure and philosophy he oversees but, for all his reluctance to change what happens off the pitch, he has been sticking with something different on it.
The new 3-4-2-1 formation that coincided with an upturn in results was again retained, with Shkodran Mustafi coming straight back into the centre of defence amid a calf injury to captain Laurent Koscielny.
The formation has been principally all about adding defensive stability but other encouraging side-effects have been to liberate Aaron Ramsey and also utilise their attacking full-backs in a more natural role.
Wenger had acknowledged before the game that his team need more “progression with their possession” but there was again only very limited evidence of the former during a plodding first half. Their two best chances were created from the right flank when Alex Oxlade-chamberlain crossed brilliantly for Ramsey shortly before being forced off with a hamstring injury and then Hector Bellerín teed up a similarly profligate Danny Welbeck.
Sánchez and Mesut Özil initially created little and, even with 45 per cent of possession, the best firsthalf chances actually fell to Southampton. Indeed, Petr Cech made two excellent saves, first to deny Manolo Gabbiadini from close range and then to acrobatically tip over a powerful Nathan Redmond shot from the edge of the penalty area.
Arsenal were at their most threatening whenever their wing-backs attacked the areas behind Southampton’s full-backs but the start of the second half signalled a tangible lift in the speed of their passing. Granit Xhaka took a particular hold of the game in central midfield while Arsenal’s threat also became more varied.
Ramsey began breaking forward in support of Özil and Sánchez who, having not seriously troubled centre-backs Jack Stephens or Maya Yoshida during the first half, grew in influence. Özil suddenly threaded a pass of trademark precision into Sánchez who turned brilliantly to leave both Stephens and Yoshida flailing before aiming his finish back inside Fraser Forster.
Arsenal’s confidence was very visibly lifted by the goal and they immediately went for a second. Bellerín again got behind Ryan Bertrand but was just unable to deliver a telling cross, while Xhaka forced a parried save of Forster that only just evaded Arsenal’s strikers.
Southampton have scored only 11 goals in their past 13 home games
and, while they were still matching Arsenal in most areas of the pitch, their lack of creativity was evident.
Manager Claude Puel later complained that the match had been reflective of a season full of “opportunities, chances, good play, but no clinical edge”.
“To have all these chances and get into so many good positions is a good thing. But after it’s important to find the clinical edge,” he added.
“If we cannot score with all these situations it is difficult to win a game.
“Against the top six, often we can play good games with chances but without reward. It’s a shame and it’s harsh for my players.”
Sofiane Boufal was introduced and, while he did cause Arsenal a fleeting moment of concern when he dribbled into space on the edge of the penalty area, his finish was wayward.
Wenger varied his attack with the late introduction of Olivier Giroud in place of Welbeck and was more instantly rewarded. Sánchez had spotted another run into Southampton’s penalty area by Ramsey, who showed impressive vision to square the ball back across the sixyard box for Giroud.
The striker had been on the pitch for only three minutes but maintained his impressive goals-to-minutes ratio this season by heading the ball down beneath Forster to seal a potentially invaluable win.
It had been a third straight home game in which Southampton failed to score and, amid audible murmurs of discontent on the final whistle, another summer of upheaval looms.
That had also looked highly likely at Arsenal but Wenger, who is potentially in the final three weeks of his career there, clearly has not given up on the case for stability.
“I never questioned the character of my side,” Wenger said. “We went through a bad patch. It’s a good opportunity to show your character, how you come back and how you recover.”
Southampton (4-2-3-1): Forster 6; Cedric 6, Yoshida 5, Stephens 6, Bertrand 5; Romeu 6, Davis 6; Ward-prowse 6 (Boufal 70), Tadic 5 (Rodriguez 80), Redmond 6 (Long 70); Gabbiadini 5. Subs Hassan (g), Caceres, Hojbjerg, Pied. Booked Ward-prowse.
Arsenal (3-4-2-1) Cech 7; Holding 6, Mustafi 6, Monreal 7; Oxlade-chamberlain 6 (Bellerin 36), Ramsey 6, Xhaka 7, Gibbs 7; Özil 7 (Coquelin 89), Sánchez 7; Welbeck 6 (Giroud 80). Subs Ospina (g), Gabriel, Walcott, Iwobi. Booked Özil, Bellerin.
Referee J Moss (W Yorkshire).