Foolish Flamini dents Arsenal run for the title
FOR Mathieu Flamini it was a moment of madness: he showed his studs and will serve a threematch ban. What a chump.
The consequence of his reckless challenge, when he launched himself twofooted at Morgan Schneiderlin 10 minutes from time, will hit Arsenal hard. They will be without him against Crystal Palace, Manchester United and Liverpool. To launch yourself at a fellow professional is disrespectful and dangerous. When you play for a team chasing their first title since 2004, it is also rank stupidity.
Sadly, it also means Southampton’s outstanding performance is of secondary importance. Instead it felt as though Arsenal’s season could be shaped by Flamini’s dismissal. The advantage has swung the way of their title rivals and Manuel Pellegrini’s Manchester City will go top if they beat Spurs this evening.
Southampton played at full throttle, taking the lead when Jose Fonte converted Luke Shaw’s teasing left-wing cross. To Arsenal’s credit they recovered from a dreadful first half to level through Olivier Giroud and then went ahead with a delicious strike from Santi Cazorla. Adam Lallana, who popped up in pockets all over pitch, scored Southampton’s equaliser. It was the least they deserved.
To see Arsenal panic as they did in the ffirst half and for much of the second, when they were unable to put their foot on the ball, was extraordinary.
Mauricio Pochettino’s team were full of exuberance, feeding off the raw, rampant enthusiasm of Sam Gallagher in his first Premier League start. At the age of just 18 he has the makings of a proper player, making life hell for Per Mertesacker and Laurent Koscielny. The kid didn’t give them any rest.
To play as he did, against a team with the best defensive record in the Premier League, was something special. Gallagher, pinched from Plymouth’s youth team two years ago, played because Rickie Lambert’s hamstring injury ruled him out. He inspired Southampton’s opening charge, linking brilliantly with Lallana, Jay Rodriguez and the lungbusting runs of Calum Chambers down the right.
Wenger’s team were untidy, sluggish and sloppy; careless in possession as Southampton built up a head of steam. Gallagher’s early strike drew a save from Wojciech Szczesny, flying to his right to tip the ball away for a corner. Game on.
Southampton took the lead in the 21st minute. Shaw put in the hard yards,