Arsenal vs. Southampton — Game Analysis on 12/26/15
St. Mary’s Stadium looking absolutely stunning before the last Premier League game on today’s Boxing Day fixtures.
PRIMER: Southampton’s form has been suspect of late, the Saints are without a win in their last five, losing four. The home team is unbeaten in their last four league meetings with Arsenal in the friendly confines of St. Mary’s stadium. Arsenal have lost only one of their last six Premier League games and have won each of their last three. The visitors have had a great run of form away from home this season, taking 19 points of a possible 27.
OUTSIDE STORY LINE(s): Arsenal have lost just one Premier League fixture on a Boxing Day (W12, D5, L1).
- Arsene Wenger, Arsenal’s manager has never lost 3 games in a row, in his entire managerial career.
- Ronald Koeman, Southampton’s manager is unbeaten in all four home matches as a manager against Arsene Wenger (W2-D2).
Arsenal expected lineups: 4–2–3–1
- Debuchy, Arteta, Wilshere, Coquelin, Cazorla, Rosicky, Welbeck, Alexis Sanchez are all out due to injuries.
- Mesut Özil has the best minutes per assist ratio in Premier League’s history, with an assist every 185 minutes. (minimum 25 assists).
Southampton expected lineups: 4–2–3–1
- Shane Long gets the start up top, as Pelle picked up a knock this past week. Huge opportunity for the Irishman tonight.
4' — Arsenal getting into a rhythm early with their passing from sideline to sideline, but hardly any of the passing is moving forward. Arsenal can go top of the table with a win tonight.
6' —The two holding midfielders for both teams: Wanyama/Clasie & Flamini/Ramsey partnerships will be crucial to the possession battle in the middle of the pitch. This will be key to whichever team can transition quickest, Defense to Offense/Offense to Defense.
11' — Both team’s strikers, Long and Giroud, have the ability to stretch the opposition’s defense. They are not the quickest of strikers, but today each team will rely on their hold up play. Giving off to the creative and technical midfielders for each team, then hoping to get in behind defenders with through balls or quick 1–2s.
- Olivier Giroud has scored 5 goals in 6 games away from home in the Premier League, and 12 goals in the last 14 games in all competitions.
13' — What a ball by Ramsey. His vision to find Monreal on the streaking overlap run is superb. Below shows where Ramsey picked the pass up and passes it through the Southampton defense into space on the far side.
15' — Southampton looking lively and up to the challenge this evening. Trying to put their recent form behind them.
19' — Cuco Martina channels his inner Roberto Carlos (Even though it wasn’t from a free kick and with the left foot instead of this time being the right. Basically a mirror image of the legend’s infamous strike) with his first goal for Southampton in any competition. St. Mary’s is rocking after that thunderous strike from distance. Terrific goal with the outside of right boot by Cuco Martina. Also his first shot for the team. Efficiency!
- Cuco Martina scored his first league goal since February 23, 2014, when Martina scored for Twente vs his current coach’s former Feyenoord squad.
- 93 different nationalities have now scored in the Premier League, as Cuco Martina becomes the first player from Curacao to score a goal.
Alternate Angle that shows the unreal curl on the ball.
But seriously, I took a screenshot of when the ball was it it’s height of the outside curve..
29' — Southhampton solely in control after that goal. Arsenal still seem stunned from the goal. These next 10–15 minutes before halftime are crucial for Arsenal’s confidence.
40' — Southhampton have had the advantage in the wider areas and thus the crosses into the box. Before the game anyone would have given the advantage to Arsenal’s wide players.
42' — Shane Long flubs an amazing chance before the completion of the first half. Wanyama picked him out with a through ball over the top for Long to run on. First touch was great, but his second touch and attempted chip of the keeper goes high over the bar. Below is the setup of that long ball. Arsenal’s holding midfielders cannot defend properly if they are on the ground..
45' — Memorable first half for Martina due to his go ahead goal. Southampton lead Arsenal 1–0.
HT Quick Hits:
Arsenal — Need better link up play. Shake off the flatness that they had in the first half, especially after the surprising goal.
Southampton — Continue the high level press and intensity. Snuff out any momentum that Arsenal pick up moving forward. Clasie and Wanyama have been superb in the first half. Need more of the same in the second half.
49' — Brave header by Van Dijk but flag is up. Second time the ball is in the back of the net but called back because of offsides. Excellent back header by the this season’s newcomer.
54' — Calm, cool, and collected by Mane to pick out Shane long who finishes past Cech to make it 2–0. Mane nutmegged Mertesacker for the assist.
- Long may have clipped Koscielny legs as they sprinted back. Reasoning why he was so open on the far post.
59' — Urgency in passing and movement for Arsenal after the second goal. Can they make a game out of this yet?
63' — Joel Campbell off, Oxlade-Chamberlin on. Campbell has ran a ton this evening, however really didn’t make an impact like his last few games in the side.
66' Clasie off, Romeu on. Clasie has been outstanding the middle of the pitch tonight for the Saints. Warm applause from the St. Mary’s faithful.
68' — Fonte makes it 3- 0. Arsenal are put to the sword with a powerful header from the Portugese international. Easy finish really for the Captain from a peach of a cross from Bertrand. No bravery from Arsenal to attack the incoming ball.
70' — Ward-Prowse off, Tadic on. Englishman has been lively down the flank, and has stretched the Gunner defense to allow Southhampton to get more bodies forward. Tactical Tadic comes in to control possession and finish this game off.
74' — Tadic with a dipping shot that keeps Cech honest. The keeper saves at his near post. Southampton still pouring it on.
1st Premier league match that Arsenal have conceded 3+ goals in over a year. Dec 6th, 2014 at stoke (3–2 loss)
78' — Walcott off, Iwobi on. Walcott could not really get going today, lacking link up play with his creative counterparts. Very isolated on the touchline.
81' — Mane off, Juanmi on. Standing ovation by the Saints’s faithful for the Senagalese international. Work rate was outstanding this evening, got rewarded for that with his assist to the Long goal.
85' — The visiting fans start piling out of the stadium in droves. Fans cannot be happy after this slow & flat performance by their Gunners. Especially after beating Manchester City handedly at the beginning of the week. In essence, the ‘six-point’ win over City undone in 6 days.
88' — Shane Long hits the far post with his rolling shot. The Irish international has tormented the Arsenal CB pairing all night. He has put in an outstanding shift up top tonight.
91' — (4–0) Long gets his second of the night. An excellent run behind the defense, deft first touch, and for fair points — nutmegs the keeper with a hard & low shot.
94' — Final Whistle
FT Quick Hits:
Arsenal — Hysterically bad from Arsenal. The ‘six-point’ win over City undone in 6 days. Héctor Bellerín is the only Arsenal defender to have won a tackle (1) today. This stat says it all about the gunners porous defense.
- The last time Arsenal lost 4–0 in the Premier League was back in 2000 vs. Liverpool. St Mary’s Stadium is a “no-go zone” for Arsenal- as they haven’t won in the Premier League in past 11 years.
- Worst defeat for Arsenal on Boxing Day since 1910 (United 5–0 Arsenal). Wenger’s parents weren’t even born then..
- Below Heatmap shows where Arsenal’s playmaker and assist master, Ozil, was for most of the game. Good positioning for a “CM,” however this clearly shows that he was hardly a factor moving forward into Southampton’s final third.
Southampton — Saints snap five-game winless streak, and have beaten Arsenal in consecutive matches for the first time since April 1988. (That is before I was born…)
- In Southampton’s last four-goal win vs Arsenal(‘98), Alan Shearer was on the scoresheet with a hat-trick.
- Long was superb with his constant pressure on the Arsenal defense, but Man of the Match goes to Wanyama who bossed the middle of the pitch in both Attack & Defense.
CURRENT TABLE:
UP NEXT:
Arsenal return home to the Emirates and face off against newly promoted side Bournemouth in 48 hours time. The visitors will be try to keep up their winning ways against top teams this season, with recent wins against Chelsea & Manchester United.
Southampton will stay on the road as they head to Boleyn Ground for Monday’s clash with West Ham. With another away win, the Saints could go ahead of the Hammers in the Premier League Table before the new year.
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