Arsenal thrashed in missed opportunity to go top
TITLE- CHASING Arsenal were thrashed 4-0 by a Southampton side that had been on a five-game winless run in the Premier League yesterday.
Another incredible result in this most unpredictable of English seasons prevented Arsenal going top, with Leicester remaining two points in front of the London club despite losing at Liverpool.
“It’s down to consistency, to fight in every single game, and find the resources to produce a top-level performance in every single game,” said Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger, who is chasing a first league title since 2004.
“Today was a very, very, very physical game and you could see this team, they tried for life, and when they scored the first goal you could see it was going to be a very difficult game.”
Cuco Martina was the unlikely catalyst of Southampton’s first win since November 7, with the full-back marking his first league start with an exceptional half-volley with the outside of his boot from distance in the 19th minute.
“I got given my chance and I wanted to prove myself – that I could play,” Martina said.
Off-side calls against Steven Davis in the build-up to the opener were ignored, as was Laurent Koscielny’s appeal for a foul in the build-up to Shane Long’s strike 10 minutes after halftime.
Jose Fonte’s header more than an hour in, and Long’s second goal in stoppage time added extra gloss to the scoreline on a night when Southampton’s response to recent disappointments was as marked as Arsenal’s collapse.
Southampton rose to 12th place, seven points clear of the relegation zone.
“We lost too many challenges, they were sharper than us, and we were a bit unlucky as well,” Wenger said.