A look at the reaction from the media and blogosphere to yesterday’s 2-2 draw with Southampton in the Premier League.
With a daunting fixture schedule looming in February and March, this week had represented a major opportunity for Arsenal to consolidate their lead at the top of the Premier League and, although they did rally after half-time last night, an insipid first-half performance ultimately proved costly. – Jeremy Wilson, Telegraph.
Arsenal were thoroughly outplayed in the first half and José Fonte’s 21st-minute header gave Saints a well-deserved lead at the break. Two quickfire goals after half-time, with the in-form duo Olivier Giroud and Santi Cazorla once again on target, gave the visitors a lead to defend before Adam Lallana pulled Southampton level and Mathieu Flamini was sent off late on. – Guardian.
Flamini compounded his poor showing later on in the game as he was correctly shown a red card for a daft and dangerous two-footed lunge on Morgan Scheiderlin with ten minutes remaining. The Frenchman now misses the next three matches which is ultimately disappointing but at least means we won’t see him and his tag team partner stinking up the midfield together for a while. It was disappointing to hear the manager describe the decision to send Flamini off as ‘harsh’ given his long campaign against such reckless behaviour in the past. People with call it hypocrisy and it would be difficult to disagree. – Arsenal Vision.
Arsenal edged an extra point clear at the top of the Premier League at the cost of a second-half sending-off for Mathieu Flamini in a topsy-turvy match that greatly undermined any confidence in the leaders maintaining that position for much longer. – Hugh Godwin, Independent.
Whether the result is two points dropped or one gained will have to wait until the end of the season. At this moment, it is disappointing. That perspective may change before even then if both City and Chelsea drop points this evening such is the fickleness of the footballing fates. A draw is not the end of Arsenal’s title aspirations, in isolation it is not the wheels coming off the wagon. – ACLF.
News of Ramsey’s injury setback makes Flamini’s stupidity look all the more damaging. A four-match suspension means we go into the games against Liverpool and Manchester United without him, while Arteta looked rusty coming back from injury, Rosicky has a broken nose and Wilshere’s ankle has been troubling him again. This would be an excellent time for an Özil hot streak, or a signing. – Goodplaya.
Follow the links for more post-game goodness.
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I always knew you had an anti-Arsenal bia…. Oh you have to click on the links to say that. Damn.
Wow, i guess everyone is expected us to go into freefall.
Lets hope we can surprise and silence the doubters
Oh well. Southampton was never going to be an easy place to visit. I see it as one point gained.
What Flamini did was stupid but lets not make that an excuse for the next few matches. We’ve still got a fantastic midfield with Ozil n Cazorla hitting form at the right time so lets go n smash the mugsmashers and the dutch skunk & co. COYG
Doom and gloom, all that’s missing is an “Arsenal in crisis” article. All this for a draw away against a top 10 side, and a red card
that image of Mertsecker berating Ozil which made the press say meltdown, but made every Arsenal fan I know say ‘Finally, a leader’
Some fair criticism in this sample of reviews of Arsenal “if you can’t win, don’t lose ” game against a solid Southampton team. Flamini must be feeling like “poo” cause in forthcoming games like CP and Liverpool we need a player like him. Arteta is one game away from another period off, as he seems vulnerable this season. But its the Manager’s problem to deal with issues like these. He knows what’s needed for this final punch for glory. #Arsenal
Julian Draxler looks and plays like Robin van Persie
Im sorry for being all doom and gloom but I havent seen us play brilliantly since the Napoli and Liverpool games. And even then Liverpool missed a host of chances. We’ve been grinding out results most of the time which is great, but I fear by the end of March we could really be looking at a fight for 3rd and 4th.
I’d say we were pretty damn good against sp*rs, even if they are dog-shoite!
Never mind the fact that ramsey dropped in form due to his immense effort earlier, we always rush to put ourselves down when instead when our huge injury list recovers, we’d be back in top form sooner than you could say ‘draxler’
My point being that we haven’t been good enough because of fatigue which will disappear in a few weeks hopefully, if my first comment derped 🙂
Arriving 45 minutes before kick off and it looked like it
Everyone has been waiting for the wheels to fall off this Arsenal side. Our first non-performance was bound to see the knives come out. The only surprise to me is that lot of the negativity has come from supposed Arsenal fans.
Well fuck ’em, I’ve peeked in Arsene’s magic hat and there’s silverware in there.
Up the arse.
I think this comment shows great focus and commitment. Although inn the future I will be little bit more careful where I leave my hat.
Silverware? Good. A spoon or a fork?
8-1 in attempts on goal in first half speaks for itself. It took 43 mins before Arsenal had their first attempt on goal. Southampton had more attempts in first half than Arsenal had all game. So We pretty much got schooled by Southampton on how to play football, and the result in the end was abit flattering. Hopefully the team will show up till the Palace game this weekend.
In Other news Arsenal apparently has a delegation in Germany hoping to Seal the deal on Draxler. Exciting 🙂
We still can gain points against Chelshit and Shitty. It still is in our hands and we are going to take it! COME ON YOU GOOOONERS!
It’s ok guys, we have Frimpong available…
After the last few years of getting a lot of experience in, we may have to face the prospect of relying on a 17 year old, to keep our season ticking over….
And i mean Zalelem not Frimpong as 17 year old….
It was a good point yesterday after the way Southampton started at high tempo. The sign of a good team is to get result without playing very well. My Arsenal is a good team this season, and we will surely be there & about come May. We have chance to display how good we are against Crystal Palace on Sunday. Come on you gunners!
I really can’t wait for our new signing Clyde ‘the glide’ Draxler. If he’s anything like he was at Miami Heat we should have the title wrapped up by April. Will be total weapon at corners and set pieces. A little concerned re his age though.