Arsenal Home Lost 0 – 2
The Premier League’s two French managers, Messieurs Puel and Wenger, are arguably the least popular amongst their respective fan bases… and yet Southampton’s point at Liverpool took them back to the top half of the table while Arsenal continue to press for yet another Champions League berth: crisis, what crisis? Arsenal’s problems are their own business, but for Saints fans, memories of that dreadful game against Hull just won’t go away – to be fair, though, they took the game to the Gunners and Čech was bay far the busier keeper in the first half, saving from Redmond and Gabbiadini. The visitors seemed to up their game after the break and, unlike their hosts, they have the personnel to take advantage of the pressure they create. The player who held the key to breaking the deadlock was Sanchez who took out both Stephens and Yoshida with a sublime turn and goal after an hour. Putting things back on an even keel is difficult for any coach but Claude’s ability to turn a game around has always been questionable; we finished with Boufal, Long and Rodriguez keeping Gabbiadini company but there were few chances to be found, while Arsenal secured their win with a 83rd minute header from the wide-open Giroud as Saints committed men forward. Ultimately, though, it was a third successive goal-less game for the team, just at a time when the club wants to sell season tickets!
LSSC Man of the Match: Jack Stephens, with a timely first half tackle countering any blame for the Sanchez goal.
Become a Member
Become a member of London Saints from as little as £5.