BEDNAWRECKS ART’S HOPES
Jan hits winner as Gunners fail to capitalise on Spurs’ top-four slip
MIKEL ARTETA had that look of bemused disbelief after Arsenal blew a golden chance to reclaim pole position in the race for a top-four place.
Tottenham’s lunchtime loss to Brighton opened the door for their North London neighbours to seize back the initiative.
But, instead of storming through it, the Gunners tripped up on the threshold, slumping to a sorry defeat at struggling Southampton – their third consecutive loss in as many weeks. Talk about pressing the self-destruct button. Afterwards, Gunners boss Arteta (left) moaned: “It’s difficult to explain because this is football not basketball.
“The game was decided in the boxes, they score with one chance, we didn’t with 25.
“It’s a huge opportunity missed, it’s very disappointing. We have to score more goals than we are at moment.
“If we don’t, then we have no chance of being up there. The players are really down because they can’t find the answers.”
This result means Arsenal’s return to Europe’s elite, following five years in the wilderness, depends more on Spurs messing up than on themselves.
And it also hauls Manchester United, who go to the Emirates next Saturday, into the mix.
Whatever the final outcome in the roller-coaster top-four battle, it is going to the wire.
If Brighton’s success at Spurs swung things back in their favour, the visitors still had to shake off two dreadful displays – against Crystal Palace and the Seagulls – to take advantage.
And then a find way past simply sensational Saints keeper Fraser Forster.
On paper, it seemed simple. Ralph Hasenhuttl’s side had
given the impression they were not only packed, but already on their holidays while picking up one point from the previous 15.
Adding to their woes, they were hit for six by Chelsea last Saturday with a performance that revived memories of those 9-0 thrashings by Manchester United and Leicester.
Yet Forster, recently recalled to the England squad, had not read the script as he produced a stream of spectacular saves.
The first of those came after eight minutes when he denied Brazilian striker Gabriel Martinelli’s low, left-foot curler.
And the Saints No.1, who had a fine game against Chelsea, despite conceding half a dozen, eclipsed that in 17 minutes as he somehow foiled Bukayo Saka.
Martinelli’s cross and Saka’s close-range bullet had goal stamped all over it until Forster’s incredible intervention. Having survived that, the Saints, who had on-loan Chelsea striker Armando Broja back leading the line, produced their first attempt midway through the half. Arsenal failed to clear a long throw and Stuart Armstrong’s shot found its way through a crowded area, but keeper Aaron Ramsdale was equal to it.
However, he did the opposite on the stroke of half-time when Jan Bednarek’s drive beat him at the near post, the Polish defender’s effort hit fiercely after Mohammed Elyounoussi’s cut-back. Suddenly, it was unravelling for Arteta’s troops. Again. The manager’s chat at the break needed to be a gamechanger. But they failed to produce the desired dividends.
Hasenhuttl reserved special praise for unbeatable Forster.
The Austrian (below) said: “We knew it was time to show a reaction. Our keeper was exceptional today. We must not forget that, without him, it would have been different.
“He was out with an ankle injury yesterday in training. We only knew he could play this morning. I’m very happy for him.”