Arsenal 3-0 Southampton: 4 negatives for Arteta’s side

Arsenal's French striker Alexandre Lacazette (C) celebrates after scoring the opening goal of the English Premier League football match between Arsenal and Southampton at the Emirates Stadium in London on December 11, 2021. - - 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 Steve Bardens / 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. / 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 STEVE BARDENS/AFP via Getty Images)
Arsenal's French striker Alexandre Lacazette (C) celebrates after scoring the opening goal of the English Premier League football match between Arsenal and Southampton at the Emirates Stadium in London on December 11, 2021. - - 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 Steve Bardens / 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. / 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 STEVE BARDENS/AFP via Getty Images) /
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Arsenal, GX
LONDON, ENGLAND – DECEMBER 11: Gabriel Magalhaes of Arsenal celebrates with teammates Ben White and Granit Xhaka after scoring their side’s third goal during the Premier League match between Arsenal and Southampton at Emirates Stadium on December 11, 2021 in London, England. (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images) /

2. Xhaka & Partey Limited What Arsenal Could do From Midfield

In the case of Xhaka, he still looks off the pace physically. In the first half he gave the ball away a staggering 12 times, misplacing passes both wide and through the middle and getting caught out positionally in key moments.

Where he does get some credit, however, was that he at least tried to be positive on the ball. The passes he misplaced were attempts to play through Southampton’s midfield, even if the risk has to end up with more reward.

As for Partey, he was better. Better being the apt way of saying he was nowhere near as dreadful as he was against Everton but still some way off where he is expected to be.

The killer aspect of him lacking confidence is where he stands on the pitch. He looked lost at times. In the opening stages he wasn’t showing for the ball as Arsenal tried to build, and his touch is less elegant than it needs to be if he’s playing that central role.

Odegaard dropping deep to provide and option to the centre-backs and facilitate play was indicative of this. At one stage Gabriel could be seen giving the Ghanaian a mouthful for not being where he needed to be in phase one of the play.

While Partey improved after the break, as did Xhaka, those two have to start gelling more as it’s clear that Arteta is going to persist with them as a partnership moving forward.

Continued on next page…