Pain in the Arsenal
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Arsenal player ratings vs Southampton: 1-0 defeat dents top four hopes

By Ross Kennerley

SOUTHAMPTON, ENGLAND - APRIL 16: Jan Bednarek of Southampton scores their side's first goal during the Premier League match between Southampton and Arsenal at St Mary's Stadium on April 16, 2022 in Southampton, England. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)
SOUTHAMPTON, ENGLAND - APRIL 16: Jan Bednarek of Southampton scores their side's first goal during the Premier League match between Southampton and Arsenal at St Mary's Stadium on April 16, 2022 in Southampton, England. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images) /
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Arsenal’s Swiss midfielder Granit Xhaka (C) vies with Southampton’s English midfielder James Ward-Prowse (R) during the English Premier League football. (Photo by DANIEL LEAL/AFP via Getty Images) /

Midfielders

Albert Sambi Lokonga (CM) – 5/10 – Sambi didn’t necessarily do anything wrong in this match, it just wasn’t creative or, crucially, fast enough.

Too often he was taking two or sometimes even three more touches than he needed to and it slowed the game down far too much for the visitors. Far too nervy looking on the ball.

Granit Xhaka (CM) – 5/10 – Started the game poorly with sloppy distribution under no real pressure. Gradually moved closer to the opposition goal as the game wore on before Smith Rowe’s involvement saw the team switch to a back three, but there just wasn’t enough zip in the passing from the Swiss.

Martin Odegaard (AM) – 5/10 – Arsenal needed Odegaard in this game and in the first half he was nowhere to be seen. Wearing that captain’s armband he had to show more authority.

That improved after the break where he shifted the ball around with more intent, only for the final pass or shot to be lacking. Too many efforts went wide of the post.

Continued on next page…

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