3 Arsenal Players Who Should Lose Their Place After Southampton Draw

Arsenal returned to London with just a point last night as their clash with Southampton ended 2-2. Although the Gunners were probably a bit frustrated with the result as it now leaves them exposed to Manchester City and Chelsea in terms of top spot, with 10 men against a solid Saints side it's nothing to be ashamed of. There were players guilty of underperforming though, and here are three who I would drop for their next outing.

1) Nacho Monreal            

The full-backs forced next to no change out of their opponents last night and were continually pushed onto he back foot. The high tempo that Southampton play at caused the Gunners all sorts of problems and Monreal was one of the standout flops.

He lost both of his headers, failed with 3/4 of his crosses and 2/3 of his take ons, as well as slicing his shot horribly wide from close range.

2) Bacary Sagna

It comes as no surprise that the man playing on the other side of defence is in this list, as he too struggled to get any joy down the flank.

He looked determined to get the better of Luke Shaw, but the teen held his ground and made Sagna look wasteful. The France international was sloppy in his distribution, failing with all three of his crosses and winning only three of his headers. Carl Jenkinson should come in and replace him, in my eyes.

3) Mikel Arteta

The Spaniard isn't the most mobile of players, and next to Flamini, who is also static, they found themselves overrun by a dogged Southampton midfield. The result was Arteta put in a sluggish performance and Flamini was red carded, and for me Aaron Ramsey and Jack Wilshere should be brought back into the side.

Comments

[temigunga]

To my opinion the whole team yesterday was sluggish. Pointing one or two or three players is wrongful. Both goals came through the left side of the pitch and via the centre back. Where does Monreal come into causing problems? Missing a short to score was frustrating but to my opinion that does not mean the player was too much floppy!! That happens and is football. Yes people can say Wilshere and Ramsey are to be paired in the next match but if similar things happens what would you do? I know Wishere can also get a red card any time the way he plays and tackles. What is important is to encourage and motivate layers altogether to work hard if they are to win. I however agree that Sagna was most of the time caught in the 3/4 half of the pitch and left side of the pitch and he is a right back!! That surprised me.

[emma]

After yesterday match I now know that arsenal can't win amy trophy this season because they played on friday now they can't perform well after 4days later y because they have enough. Player if wenger mean bussines he need. To buy more player or else they will still be as emty hand ,

[Caligooner]

Honestly I think who ever wrote this maybe retarded, cuz first off the reason jack and Rambo arnt playing is because they are injured, you dip. And Carl....... Carl fucking jenkison should fill the shoes of sanga, when he plays he looks like a baby deer trying to walk its a joke . To the person who wrote this you where not dropped as a baby you where thrown across the room
Sincerely Nik

[Henry]

Monreal was d flop in the match that is why sagna find it difficult, because when other players realized the ball was coming from the left side of thr pitch they all went to that side to help monreal and they all left sagna alone.
There was no pull out from the left side, monreal can not score, Gnabry was tired, Gnabry can noot pass.

[emma]

Hello all arsenal fans do you peoples beliieve arsenal can win any trophy for. This Season with the way they played yesterday ??? Pls. I want every one to involve

[James]

Tbh I agree with the author on saying that those three players in perticular had a poor game but the team suffered because tthe center mids were Arteta and Flamini. For me Arteta rightly should be dropped he's not had a good season for me he's been awful in some games and unfortunately last night was the worst.

His pass complete rate was awful and when the were completed he put both center backs and keeper under pressure. I can't remember him winning a single tackle during the entire game and his marking was atrocious he was at fault for lallanas goal because he didn't track his player back. Flamini had twice the work load than he would with jack or Aaron in there instead of Arteta.

In turn this terrible performance pushed our usual free fullbacks to defend for ninety mins I can see why Wenger was tracking Cabeye

[Caligooner]

Truthfully I think they can win three trophys this year, Southampton is a tricky side they plays all out attack as there defense, the likes of Chelsea man city Man U Liverpool and Tottenham have all dropped points to them. Arsenal are one of the best passing teams in the world and that's what will lead them to trophys

[Fazz]

I think everyone needs to calm down. The author of this article was smoking his socks when writing this post. Probably a little angry as well. Look... Southampton played a good game yesterday! Arsenal playing Arteta and Flamini doesn't work together. There's more frustration than anything else.

Monreal doesn't have the strong frame for the EPL everyone knows that, so when you have a huge Fonte jumping... Fonte will win! But the team isn't doing badly. I just think the Ox should've start in the middle rather or on the wing cos Gnabry is looking exhausted! But he's a kid... it can happen.

Just think... Chelsea and City WILL slip up again in the league. Its only United who used to be able to keep the run up towards the end of the seasons!!!!

[Norwegian Saint]

Why is it that every team that comes to us plays badly? We should have murdered you in the first half.... with 8 British home grown players involved! Shaw, Chambers, Cork, Lallana, Davis, J-Rod, James Ward-Prowse and an eighteen year old striker Gallagher making his debut... how many Brits did you have on the pitch at the start? Zero! Take your lucky point and we will see you next season with another episode of "how bad we played"!

[Lanre]

As 4 me dat wz d worst game arsenal ave played dis season n i tink wenger should drop monreal isnt gud

[Gooner]

Bring Wilshere and Ramsey back into the team? Yeah, great idea, aside from the fact that they're both injured.

Watch football much?

[Monty]

Sagna has been fantastic this season. 1 game is not cause to drop him. & Arteta was coming back from injury, so excuse him for looking a bit jaded. Basically, you have taken this game on it's own without looking at the full picture. However, I do agree that Kieran Gibbs is a much better choice than Monreal at the moment.

[Aussie Gunner]

Here we go the knives are out again, we drop a point and ali of a sudden it's doom and gloom, relax people we only dropped a point do you think Chelski and the team bought with oil money aren't going to drop points till the end of the season?
You're dreaming, we'll get back on the winners list again, stick wih the Gunners, be true supporters.
Gunner forever.

[Ice]

"The France international was sloppy in his distribution, failing with all three of his crosses and winning only three of his headers."

Assist with a cross for the Giroud goal...

Cu..!!!

[Steve of Chiang Mai]

Nacho Monreal had a poor game and Gibbs will surely leapfrog him this Sunday. To suggest that Sagna with one assist and Arteta with Flamini suspended would be replaced indicates the author has little understanding. Jenkinson showed against Coventry his crosses are fine but he lacks the ball skills to work with Arsenal's midfielders - he simply cannot pass accurately square to the midfielders, either passing up the wings or back to Per - often scaring the fans with his passing game much more than the opposition.

Arsenal's major problem was caused by Ramsey, Wilshire and Rosicky all being injured leaving no box to box player to give Sagna options in midfield. Arteta's lack of pace and Flamini's lack of creativity make them a poor combination when the team is being pressed so well. Flamini doesnt do the give and go like those guys and Arteta is too slow to burst through midfield. I suspect Ox will be the man against Crystal Palace and perhaps Rosicky will give Gnabry and breather on the flanks.