GUNNERS SHOT DOWN
No wonder Arteta can’t bear to watch as FA Cup holders lose at Southampton
SO there will be no miracle FA Cup win for Arsenal to rescue their season this time. It’s Gdansk or bust in terms of trophies, as the Europa League now looms large on their agenda, with the Polish port city hosting the final in May.
The FA Cup holders got what they deserved at Southampton. Ralph Hasenhuttl picked pretty much his strongest XI while Mikel Arteta tried to box clever and rotate. And given that these sides meet again on Tuesday in the Premier League, that might be understandable, though Hasenhuttl clearly took a different view.
‘This is the FA Cup and this season we are in a better place in the table. We are not in a relegation battle, so we don’t have to rest any players — the league is on Tuesday and this was the FA Cup,’ said the Saints boss.
It used to be the case that you pitched your youngsters into the cup ties and rested your senior pros. At Arsenal it is the reverse at present. It is the kids, such as Emile Smith Rowe and Bukayo Saka, who give the team impetus whereas highly-paid stars (Willian) and big-money signings (Nicolas Pepe) can’t make an impact.
And this was a dispiriting day for the second string. Some might be forgiven. Gabriel, who struggled at centre-half, has had Covid and limited minutes. Gabriel Martinelli, who missed one glorious chance and contributed little, is recovering from injury. Their time will surely come.
It’s hard to be as confident about Willian’s and Pepe’s career trajectory at Arsenal. Asked if supporters were entitled for more from them, Arteta did his best to defend his men.
He said: ‘They’re entitled to ask for anything but they try to give their best. You could see how hard they are trying, with more or less quality, but the intention is there and the willingness is there.
‘This is what we demand them to do. And after the decision making, the final pass, the final goal, the opportunities they have, it is the end product and that’s the hardest thing in football.
‘We are going to keep supporting them as much as we possible can, as a coaching staff and as a club because that is what they need. They need to keep working hard and try to improve their performances.
‘I want to think positively and think that they are going to reach their level very soon.’
The brutal truth is that without his first XI, Arteta’s team are tepid, always looking for safe options.
Without Smith Rowe, Saka, Kieran Tierney, also rested, and Pierre Emerick Aubameyang, who was missing for personal reasons, they lack players with the drive to take risk and force the game.
Not so Southampton. From the outset, intent seemed clear. The free-kick James Ward-Prowse whipped in after two minutes and his corner on four minutes, which saw Danny Ings’ header deflected wide was a microcosm of the game. Southampton, on the front foot, regularly driving at the Arsenal box, won a succession of set-pieces which was stretching the make-shift Gunners defence. Ward-Prowse hit the bar direct from a corner and Che Adams had the beating of Gabriel as he powered towards goal on 15 minutes and got his shot away, only for Bernd Leno to save. That said, despite a plethora of corners and free-kicks, it was Arsenal who almost took the lead on 16 minutes from their own set-piece. Pepe floated in a free-kick and Martinelli found himself in space, onside and in front of goal with just Fraser Forster to beat. But the Brazilian swiped at the ball with an embarrassing air shot.
Arsenal’s lack of assuredness would eventually cost them as they attempted to play out from their own box in the 24th minute. Stuck in the right-hand corner, Hector Bellerin and Mohamed Elneny engaged in an argument as to whose fault it was when losing possession.
Meanwhile, Ward-Prowse fed Kyle Walker-Peters, who drove goalwards. Cedric allowed his cross through his legs and Gabriel, confused, stretched out a leg to turn it into his own net. It was a veritable defensive shambles.
As the final minutes approached, Arsenal meekly accept their fate.