Gunners slip up yet again on the road.
Arsenal put in a dismal display at St Mary’s with some ridiculous defensive and goalkeeping errors to allow Southampton to a 2-0 victory.
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The win for Saints sends Ronald Koeman’s side three points clear of the Gunners into fourth place, a result that could become crucial at the end of the season when determining Champions League places.
We look at the Arsenal player ratings after another terrible defeat.
GK: Wojciech Szczesny – 2
Culpable for both goals but hardly helped by some ridiculously naïve Arsenal defending.
However was nearly at fault for further goals and was lucky not to concede more.
RB: Mathieu Debuchy – 5
Struggled as the game progressed and was partly at fault for Southampton’s second goal before being replace late on for Akpom.
CB: Per Mertesacker – 5
Hardly a nightmare game for Mertesacker but was tested by Mane and could have tried to cover the goal mouth for Southampton’s first when Szczesny left his line.
CB: Laurent Koscielny – 6
Definitely the most secure of Arsenal’s defenders today but had some difficulties dealing with both Pelle and Mane.
Though, fans will surely be delighted he managed to make it through two games relatively unscathed after so long out.
LB: Kieran Gibbs – 6
One of Arsenal’s more driving players going forward and a key outlet but was unable to offer any really attacking threat in the final third.
CM: Calum Chambers – 4
Not Chambers’ best game though it was in an unfamiliar midfield role.
Played particularly deep and wasn’t at fault for either goal but was sacrificed when Arsenal were chasing the game.
LM: Francis Coquelin – 5
More mobile of Arsenal’s midfield screen and was solid when he needed to be but Arsenal’s day was summed up when Coquelin took aim for distance only for it to end up more like a rugby conversion than an actual shot.
RM: Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain – 6
Almost scored with an incredible first time shot and carried the Arsenal side forward.
However, Chamberlain continued his knack of continually losing possession when and couldn’t break through the Southampton lines no matter how many attempts he had.
LW: Santi Cazorla – 6
Some threatening moments but coupled with some poor finishing and questionable decisions to shoot.
On another day he could have put Arsenal ahead before Mane’s goal in the first half.
CF: Alexis Sánchez – 7
Drew multiple saves from Forster and Arsenal’s most potent attacking threat but clearly his lack of rest has taken a toll on him and needs a well deserved break at the weekend.
RW: Tomas Rosicky – 5
Quiet for much of the game and wasn’t able to impose like his performance against QPR.
Could have done more to prevent Southampton attacks down his flank as he was continually caught drifting inside.
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