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I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again… the international break ALWAYS feels longer, when The Arsenal have suffered a defeat.

I’ve deliberately avoided all things football for the last couple of weeks, as I didn’t want to hear the ridiculous false narratives, and the low hanging fruit comments about “Getting over the line” and “Bottle”.

I hope the Arsenal players did exactly the same, as the outside noise has become deafening of late… but there’s nothing like a convincing win, to act as noise cancellation headphones.

The Gunners simply must bounce back, as they have done after every defeat this season.

Opposition today, are Southampton, and the stage… St Mary’s Stadium… and the competition… the FA Cup.

Those of you who’ve been reading my previous blogs, will be well aware that I LOVE the FA Cup, and it’d be wonderful to increase our record 14 wins of the trophy, to 15… by winning the competition this season.

First things first though, lets get past The Saints… and ensure that they most certainly WON’T be, marching in.

There was a ludicrous amount of speculation surrounding our team selection, due to the number of players that missed games for their respective national teams.

The starting 11 was Kepa Arrizabalaga in goal, Lewis-Skelly at left-back, Gabriel and Mosquera, central… and Benny Blanco (Ben White) at right-back.

In midfield it was Norgaard, Odegaard, and Havertz.

The front 3 was Martinelli on the left, Gabriel Jesus through the middle, and Max Dowman on the right.

Not our strongest team by any stretch of the imagination… BUT… this was a more than capable team, well equipped to deal with an in-form Southampton side. (I hoped, and prayed)

My prayers seemed to go unanswered though, as the early stages of the game, saw us squander some decent opportunities. A couple of shots from Max Dowman, the most memorable.

The usual worry set in, when we failed to convert our chances… and with good reason too, as in the 35^th minute, and against the run of play… The Saints marched in.

Sloppy, naïve defending, saw a simple cross cause pandemonium to our backline. Ross Stewart could’ve easily been mistaken for lost astronaut, the way he was drifting in space. He chested the ball down, calmly fired the ball past Kepa. 1-0 to Southampton.

The Gunners struggled to string 2 passes together after conceding, and every time The Saints were on the attack, they looked like blessing their fans, with more goals.

The half-time whistle couldn’t come soon enough, and when the referee blew his whistle, it felt like mercy. The Arsenal went in 1-0 down, at the break… and we got what we deserved. It was a woeful first half performance.

Mikel Arteta’s team talk, needed to be a galvanising, passionate, gladiatorial, rallying-cry… because too many players didn’t look up for the battle. Make no mistake, that’s what we were in, a battle! A battle to restore pride, after the loss to Mancheatster City. A battle to repair the damage to our confidence. A battle to get back to winning ways… and a battle to progress to the semi-finals, of the FA Cup.

It appeared as though whatever was said during the interval, must’ve been an array of clumsy sounds, because they fell on deaf ears. We were just as ineffective in the second half… and Arteta made changes in the 60^th minute.

Gyokeres replaced Jesus, Calafiori replaced Lewis-Skelly, and Madueke came on for Odegaard.

Southampton were determined to increase their 1-0 lead, and had a shot just over the bar, after a good move… and then in the 62^nd minute, they hit the bar… with an excellent curling, dipping effort.

Struggles to get to grips with this game, continued for The Gunners.

In the 68^th minute, Gabriel carried the ball to the edge of the Southampton box, played a nice through-ball to Havertz, and he cut it back to Gyokeres, who slotted the ball in… with a controlled strike, off the instep of his boot. An equaliser, a lifeline, a chance to sweep this bad performance under the rug. 1-1 now the scoreline.

Even with honours even, it still felt like The Arsenal had a mountain to climb, to win this game… and we were climbing barefoot, with no harnesses, no first-aid kit, and no provisions. That’s how dismal our performance had been.

Gabriel went off injured in the 72^nd minute, and was replaced by Saliba. We cannot afford to lose Gabriel at THIS STAGE of the season… so hopefully it’s nothing too serious.

Zubimendi came on for Havertz in the 79^th minute… and by then, the change just felt like a token gesture, as I had no hope of Zoobaah-Zoobaah changing the game in midfield, or scoring a screamer… because it’d just been one of those days.

The Wonder-Kid Max Dowman, had another good effort saved in the 84^th minute… but baring that, we created very little after the goal.

It was another stellar performance from Dowman, and he was probably our best player, and long may his development continue.

I was extremely disappointed with the “Fringe” players… as they didn’t play like they were trying to nail down a place in the starting lineup, and THAT’S exactly what they SHOULD’VE been doing. It was so disappointing to witness.

In the 85^th minute, Shea Charles made it 2-1 Southampton, and it’s exactly what they deserved. They wanted it more, and they played like it too! The Saints not only went marching in… they wiped their muddy boots on the Arsenal furniture, and then left with our pride, and a semi-final place. Yes… the match finished 2-1 to Southampton, and The Arsenal had suffered a second consecutive defeat.

We don’t have time to tend to our gaping wounds, as we have a tough game in the Champions League on Tuesday, away to Sporting… at the Estadio Jose Alvalade.

It’s another must win game, but they all are, at this stage of the season. Only a win will stem the bleeding, and ensure the stitching of our season, won’t come apart… and our cuts don’t get infected… but are instead scars worn as a badge of honour, to reflect a long…arduous season, that ends with us lifting the big trophies!!

Don’t lose faith my Arsenal family, this is just a blip… and the team need us NOW, more than ever!!

Do you still believe we’ll achieve great things this season?

What would you change to give the team the “Spark” that we seem to be missing?

How can we be more efficient in front of goal?

Let me know in the comments, as usual. COYG!!

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