Arsenal: 4 Things We Learned From Southampton Draw

Dearth of Discipline

The immediate questions asked after the draw will centre around the role Arteta is having in the string of red cards his side are accruing. Bad enough as a footballing side, whatever faint hopes there may be winning matches can evaporate entirely until the side learn how to finish games with ten men.

At this stage, when Arsenal are in their worst form for decades, the bare minimum you can do is try and contain emotions and avoid either rash challenges or silly errors. In a game of fine margins, something as stupidly simple as having 11 players on the pitch provides far greater platform to be a threat.

Is Arteta responsible? It’s wrong to presume so, unless you lay the torrid run of form entirely on his shoulders.

A combination of individual idiocy and over-commitment seems the likely reason. When the chips are down, frustration creeps in and it boils over into the players’ reaction. In terms of Gabriel, the way he plays always sees him at risk of multiple yellow cards. Doesn’t mean it isn’t poor from him, however.

Was Wednesday better? Marginally. Arsenal dug in and defended balls into the box well having been reduced to ten, and the performance after the break was improved, but it’s another limp overall display to add to a season that shows but a flickering of resurrection.