Arsenal: 3 positives from dreadful Southampton defeat

Arsenal's Swiss midfielder Granit Xhaka (C) vies with Southampton's English midfielder James Ward-Prowse (R) during the English Premier League football match between Southampton and Arsenal at St Mary's Stadium in Southampton, southern England on April 16, 2022. - 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 Daniel LEAL / 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 DANIEL LEAL/AFP via Getty Images) /

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SOUTHAMPTON, ENGLAND – APRIL 16: Nathan Redmond of Southampton blocks Granit Xhaka of Arsenal shot during the Premier League match between Southampton and Arsenal at St Mary’s Stadium on April 16, 2022 in Southampton, England. (Photo by Robin Jones/Getty Images) /

2. Granit Xhaka Looks Set to Stay in Midfield

The performance was still drab. To have played Crystal Palace, Brighton and Southampton, earned no points and scored just one deflected goal is, quite frankly, pathetic. These are teams, especially in their respective forms, that Arsenal should be beating.

There was a slight difference for this game, however; Granit Xhaka, to everyone’s great joy, wasn’t playing at left-back. And, y’know, Arsenal produced a better performance off the back of it.

Who would have thought.

Still well below the levels desired, Arsenal were able to dominate the game more when he was central, while even when he moved into the back three he pushed so high he was effectively operating as a No. 8.

There is more balance on the whole and if there is something reassuring to draw from the game it’s that fans can at least now surely be confident that he isn’t going to be playing at left-back again this season.

With minutes in Nuno’s legs and a partner for Sambi in the middle, maybe, just maybe, Arsenal might have the structure in place to score a goal.

Continued on next page…

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