Arsenal: 4 Things We Learned From Southampton Draw

Arsenal's Spanish manager Mikel Arteta reacts during the English Premier League football match between Arsenal and Southampton at the Emirates Stadium in London on December 16, 2020. (Photo by Clive Rose / POOL / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No video emulation. Social media in-match use limited to 120 images. An additional 40 images may be used in extra time. No use in betting publications, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo by CLIVE ROSE/POOL/AFP via Getty Images) /

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LONDON, ENGLAND – DECEMBER 16: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang of Arsenal (Photo by Peter Cziborra – Pool/Getty Images) /

Confidence Shot to Pieces

What was painstakingly evident on Wednesday was that there was one side brimming with confidence, not only in themselves, but with each other, and the other team shot to pieces and glumly soul-searching.

If you’re a confident team, you start football matches well. Arsenal don’t do that. They can’t do that. Similarly against Burnley, the spell after the break was the best period of the game.

It takes 45 minutes for the team to kick into gear, get a feel for the match and start pinging the ball around with pace. Analyse until hell freezes over, it’s down to having zero self-belief.

Precious few members of this squad still have the minor inklings of confidence, namely Saka, although his awareness of his ability will flounder as the rest of the team continue to trudge through matches in first gear.

The only thing that boosts confidence is victories. Arsenal can’t buy one of those at the minute.

All that said, they’re the victims of their own downfall…

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