Southampton 1-0 Arsenal: 4 talking points as top four fades

3. Where is the Urgency?

Just as with the game against the Seagulls, the total lack of zip and speed to Arsenal’s play is cause for serious concern.

Looking back at earlier in the season when Arsenal weren’t at their best but still won games on the strength of their rip-roaring starts, even that tempo has evaporated. The injuries are clearly having an impact, but when your midfielders are taking two or three touches too many it has nothing to do with those not available.

Sambi didn’t really put a foot wrong. His passing was fairly crisp and he kept showing for the ball, it was just sluggishness from him, Odegaard in the first half, and Xhaka that didn’t help inspire. Everything Arsenal did was in first gear for too long.

What’s difficult is to work out why. There are no grounds to claim this is due to a lack of care from the players, as they want this just as much as the fans. Is it pressure? Are they wilting under the spotlight? There are no excuses whatsoever, especially with a vocal away following singing and chanting from the very first minute to the last.

The disparity in performance levels having lost two players in alarming. The whole system looks flawed. While there is always going to be a drop off, it can’t be this gargantuan.

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