Alan Shearer has claimed that Southampton pinpointed weaknesses in Arsenal’s defence this weekend, and Charlie Austin highlighted their failings with him goal in the opening minutes of the match,
The Gunners needed a very late equaliser from Olivier Giroud to walk away with a point from the encounter at St Marys Stadium this Sunday, and were lucky not to have been further behind in the match.
Shearer insists that the Saints saw weakness in their opponents, and went after them.
“They identified weaknesses in that Arsenal backline and they went after Arsenal.” Shearer said.
“You think the way Arsenal defended for the goals they conceded against Manchester United that starting today’s game they’d be up and aware of their mistakes.
“And if you’re wondering why they’ve conceded 32 goals in 2017 away from home and only Watford, Stoke and West Ham have a worse record, this is why when you look at the way they defended.
“It’s a throw in, they’d scored from. Charlie Austin, he’s the goalscorer. He first of all wins the flick on then look at how many Arsenal players he runs past – six. He’s won the throw in. He ends up behind the Arsenal line.
“It’s a hell of a finish, a hell of a move but it’s terrible from that back line. Yes it’s mentality.
“Xhaka and Ramsey. Meant to be one of them sitting midfielder, holding midfielder, in front of the back three or back five. Tadic is free. Take a touch, turn. You’ve conceded after two minutes. After five minutes, trying to play offside, not offside.
“Back line again all over the place. They should be 2-0 down after five minutes.
“James Ward-Prowse is on his bike, running in behind. Two or three seconds, long ball, back line again all over the place, and he’s in on goal.
“Second half, Arsene said they were a lot better? No they weren’t. There’s your sitting midfielder Xhaka, and Tadic. Look at Xhaka jogging where Tadic ends up. Bertrand is one-on-one and this is to go 2-0 up again. That goes in and it’s all over.”
Is our defence out of form or are they simply not good enough?
Pat J