Arsenal manager, Mikel Arteta hopes the 1-1 draw with Southampton will prove the start of his side’s recovery.
This is based on the fact that the Gunners ended a three-match losing run in the Premier League. Arsenal held on to share the points with the visitors despite going down to 10 men.
Former Arsenal player, Theo Walcott opened the scoring for the in-form Saints with a delightful dink over onrushing goalkeeper Bernd Leno. Walcott (38) is behind Robin van Persie (46) and Olivier Giroud (40) on the list of highest scorers of Premier League goals at Emirates Stadium.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang broke his goal barren run with a smart finish after the break to level. The goal of the skipper ended Arsenal’s run of 797 minutes in the Premier League without a goal from open play.
The Gunners proved to be indisciplined again. This time around, it was Gabriel Magalhaes that got sent off for two yellow cards received in four minutes.
That reduced Arsenal’s influence on the game as Saint grew back into it. Substitute Nathan Redmond struck the crossbar as Southampton pressed for a winner that would have moved them briefly top of the league.
However, the visitors almost conceded at the other end late on when Rob Holding’s header also rattled the woodwork.
Southampton now occupies the third spot after Leicester City lost 2-0 at home to Everton, while Arteta’s side remains 15th in what is Arsenal’s worst start to a top-flight campaign since the 1974-75 season.
“We showed some resilience and character to hang in there for so long against a really dangerous team.
“We came back after conceding the goal and showed how much we wanted it,” said Arteta.
The boss reflects on #ARSSOU 📺
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) December 16, 2020
The manager added that the manner of the fightback could start a recovery, saying it would have been difficult to take if they had lost.
Arteta needs to indiscipline issues at Arsenal after another draw against Southampton
Once, indiscipline issue becomes the other of the day for Arsenal after Gabriel got sent off for two bookings in four minutes.
Being a man down gives the opponent the chance to win games especially against a team that is currently on a bad run. Gabriel’s red card makes it the 7th under Arteta since he took over at the club.
After the equalizer, Arsenal had begun building some momentum after Aubameyang. But within 10 minutes they got deflated after being down to 10 men.
Such was the case against Burnley, in a match, Arsenal was tipped to use as a comeback to form. The rate at which Gunners are finishing games with a lesser man is becoming alarming. This is their third red card in five matches
However, the positive from the match is that Aubameyang ended a run of 648 minutes without a Premier League goal at the Emirates.
It is hoped that the Spanish tactician looks for a lasting solution to this in order to be confident of starting a game and finishing it with 11 players on the field.
The draw means the Gunners will have to wait for another win after their last came against Manchester United at Old Trafford six weeks ago.
Another positive shown by Arsenal’s youngest starting XI in the league since September 2012 was their resilience following Gabriel’s dismissal.
Arteta also needs to better his Premier League record as a coach, having recorded more wins in cup competitions (14) than the domestic league (13).
There is a huge test on the way for him in the next ten days as he will have to answer his critics against Everton and Chelsea in the league, and Manchester City in the EFL Cup.
So, Arteta needs more from these players in the games ahead to earn the right to shape the squad in his own image.
