Arsenal have two talents they need to trust

Arsenal should be under no illusions just how important this fixture against Southampton is. Lose here and it’s four defeats in the last five in the Premier League. That is not top half form, let alone top four form.

The whole situation has appeared to be tumbling to the ground off the back of two injuries. It’s a position that this thin squad always feared.

Pointing to activity in the transfer market overlooks just how irreplaceable Thomas Partey is; no midfielder in Europe could have been signed in January to replace the Ghanaian, or even come close. But, there is one who it’s thought could be a long-term successor.

Sambi Lokonga was the kind of backup signing this club needed to make. One that supporters can buy into. His acquisition wasn’t an ageing Cedric Soares on a stupidly long contract, it was one with an eye on player development, and mid to long-term gain.

Southampton vs Arsenal: Arteta has two talents he needs to trust in Sambi and Nuno Tavares with his management skills up for debate

When the club goes into the summer to sign more squad players, it’s profiles of Sambi’s ilk that we want to see. Future stars.

His future, however, is now.

Mikel Arteta showed a considerable degree of faith in the Belgian when he fielded him in Partey’s position at Brighton, although it shouldn’t have come as a great surprise given he had done so over Mohamed Elneny during the early stages of the campaign. Even if there was one occasion where he didn’t: Old Trafford.

Playing Sambi in midfield without Xhaka in the 2-1 defeat to Brighton was a burden too great to bear, however. It is one thing trusting your talent and another matter entirely to over-encumber him without factoring in the context and his lack of minutes. Trust him, just do so in a methodical way that protects the player.

As for Nuno Tavares, it felt like the final nail in his Arsenal coffin when Arteta not only started Xhaka in his position last time out, but also objected to the idea of bringing him on despite the blatant need for a natural in that position. It was a move that felt premeditated, regardless of the talent witnessed earlier in the campaign.

But what greater declaration of trust it would be than to bring him back into the fold for a match of such importance. Even without factoring in the tactical benefits of a fast ball-carrier and transition runner against a side who press high up the pitch, it can set the tone for a stable system to see the season out.

Arteta has shown his qualities when it comes to managing a core group of players, those he truly trusts and can tactically mould to his liking. Where he falters is in the more fringe options at his disposal, flip-flopping his opinion on them and not building an environment for them to truly flourish.

Now it’s time he developed himself. After all, these were his signings. Sambi is less of a worry given he started against Brighton, but in the case of Nuno he can’t fall down this same rabbit hole of completely tanking a players’ value by discarding him from his thoughts. It’s happened with players already and he needs to learn to manage these options in his team, especially when he bought them in the first place.

At Southampton, it’s all about trusting those around you, just as the players trust each other.