LONDON, ENGLAND – NOVEMBER 23: Lucas Torreira of Arsenal reacts after Southampton’s second goal during the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Southampton FC at Emirates Stadium on November 23, 2019 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)
Upon the return of the international break, Arsenal hosted Southampton on Saturday in desperate need of a win. Here are five things we learned from the 2-2 draw.
The international breaks are routinely the worst parts of the football season. And yet, if you were to offer me the chance to return to the safety, solitude and silence of an international break, after yet another dismal Arsenal display in Saturday’s 2-2 draw against 19th-placed Southampton, I would not hesitate to take it. The Gunners did what they always do under Unai Emery: played poorly, were bailed out by their strikers, and lost yet more points against a lesser team that they should be dismantling.
Here are five things we learned from another disaster.
LONDON, ENGLAND – NOVEMBER 23: Hector Bellerin of Arsenal runs with the ball during the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Southampton FC at Emirates Stadium on November 23, 2019 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)
5. Hector Bellerin isn’t sharp
Before I touch on more pertinent subjects like Unai Emery, which is all that the Arsenal fanbase is currently discussing, I would first like to highlight the individual problems of Hector Bellerin ever since his return from an ACL tear. The Spaniard has not looked sharp all season long, and the same issues arose here.
Initially, it was his play in possession that was extremely concerning. Loose passes, wayward first touches, losing the ball cheaply and allowing Southampton to threaten in transition. Not good. But then he looked lacklustre in other areas, like when Ryan Bertrand surged past him with a good run off the ball to drive to the by-line. Or when he sailed yet another cross way over the heads of his teammates in the penalty area.
I do not want to criticise Bellerin too heavily. This was not his best performance, like many of his outings this season, but that is more relevant to his recovery from injury, not his ability. For a player who relies on his explosive athleticism, tearing an ACL is horrible. It can take months to rediscover that match sharpness, and for Bellerin, that is playing out this year.
Arsenal display in <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2019/11/23/arsenal-vs-southampton-5-things-learned-unai-emery-blame/"https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/live/football/50091735">Saturday’s 2-2 draw against 19th-placed Southampton</a>, I would not hesitate to take it. The Gunners did what they always do under Unai Emery: played poorly, were bailed out by their strikers, and lost yet more points against a lesser team that they should be dismantling.</p>
<h2><a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2019/11/23/arsenal-vs-southampton-5-things-learned-unai-emery-blame/"https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/pain-in-the-arsenal-podcast-on-arsenal-fc/id1314514440?ign-mpt=uo%3D4%26amp%3Buo%3D4&mt=2%22>Find the latest episode of the Pain in the Arsenal Podcast here — Can we talk about something else?</a></h2>
<p>Here are five things we learned from another disaster.</p>
<div id="attachment_95651" class="wp-caption aligncenter">
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-large wp-image-95651" src=https://paininthearsenal.com/2019/11/23/arsenal-vs-southampton-5-things-learned-unai-emery-blame/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_389,w_590/https%3A%2F%2Fpaininthearsenal.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2017%2F07%2F1189557468-850x560.jpeg" alt="" width="590" height="389"><div class="fs-center-img">
<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:590px;">LONDON, ENGLAND – NOVEMBER 23: Hector Bellerin of Arsenal runs with the ball during the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Southampton FC at Emirates Stadium on November 23, 2019 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)</p>
</div>
</div>
<h4>5. Hector Bellerin isn’t sharp</h4>
<p>Before I touch on more pertinent subjects like Unai Emery, which is all that the Arsenal fanbase is currently discussing, I would first like to highlight the individual problems of Hector Bellerin ever since his return from an ACL tear. The Spaniard has not looked sharp all season long, and the same issues arose here.</p>
<p>Initially, it was his play in possession that was extremely concerning. Loose passes, wayward first touches, losing the ball cheaply and allowing Southampton to threaten in transition. Not good. But then he looked lacklustre in other areas, like when Ryan Bertrand surged past him with a good run off the ball to drive to the by-line. Or when he sailed yet another cross way over the heads of his teammates in the penalty area.</p>
<p>I do not want to criticise Bellerin too heavily. This was not his best performance, like many of his outings this season, but that is more relevant to his recovery from injury, not his ability. For a player who relies on his explosive athleticism, tearing an ACL is horrible. It can take months to rediscover that match sharpness, and for Bellerin, that is playing out this year.</p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #c01f2f" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2019/11/23/arsenal-vs-southampton-5-things-learned-unai-emery-blame/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> 4. Switch on </a>
</div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_95652" class="wp-caption aligncenter">
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-large wp-image-95652" src=https://paininthearsenal.com/2019/11/23/arsenal-vs-southampton-5-things-learned-unai-emery-blame/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_389,w_590/https%3A%2F%2Fpaininthearsenal.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2017%2F07%2F1189550649-850x560.jpeg" alt="" width="590" height="389"><div class="fs-center-img">
<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:590px;">LONDON, ENGLAND – NOVEMBER 23: Danny Ings of Southampton scores his team’s first goal during the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Southampton FC at Emirates Stadium on November 23, 2019 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)</p>
</div>
</div>
<h4>4. Switch on</h4>
<p>Play to the whistle. Reset with speed every time the ball goes out of play. Switch on. These mental aspects of playing football are drilled into every young player from the first time they kick a ball in a competitive fashion. But Arsenal players have seemingly forgotten these lessons, as they almost do every single week.</p>
<p>As soon as Nathan Redmond was felled by Calum Chambers, David Luiz, Sokratis and others should have been organising themselves and the teammates around them, ensuring that all are in the right position to defend the upcoming set-piece. Yet, they could not be doing less, walking around, backs turned to the ball, utterly unaware of what is going on.</p>
<p>These are experienced defenders playing complacently. Arsenal proceeded to concede from this freekick and also allowed Southampton to carve through them in the second half as their lack of organisation came back to bite them. As a collective team, they are switched off, and that is down to poor coaching.</p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #c01f2f" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2019/11/23/arsenal-vs-southampton-5-things-learned-unai-emery-blame/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> 3. Unai Emery out... for the millionth time </a>
</div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_95653" class="wp-caption aligncenter">
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-large wp-image-95653" src=https://paininthearsenal.com/2019/11/23/arsenal-vs-southampton-5-things-learned-unai-emery-blame/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_389,w_590/https%3A%2F%2Fpaininthearsenal.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2017%2F07%2F1189563063-850x560.jpeg" alt="" width="590" height="389"><div class="fs-center-img">
<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:590px;">LONDON, ENGLAND – NOVEMBER 23: Unai Emery, Manager of Arsenal reacts during the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Southampton FC at Emirates Stadium on November 23, 2019 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)</p>
</div>
</div>
<h4>3. Unai Emery out… for the millionth time</h4>
<p>I am not sure how many times this needs to be said, but Arsenal must sack <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2019/11/23/arsenal-vs-southampton-5-things-learned-unai-emery-blame/"https://paininthearsenal.com/?s=unai+emery%22>Unai Emery</a>. In fact, they should have sacked him a long time ago, so now, with every passing minute that he remains in charge, the club prove their incompetence — more on this later.</p>
<div class="recent-posts ">
<h4>More from <b>Pain in the Arsenal</b></h4>
<ul>
<li>
<a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2019/11/23/arsenal-vs-southampton-5-things-learned-unai-emery-blame/"https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/11/10/arsenal-interest-miguel-gutierrez-girona/">
Fabrizio Romano confirms Arsenal interest in Girona star
</a>
</li><li>
<a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2019/11/23/arsenal-vs-southampton-5-things-learned-unai-emery-blame/"https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/11/10/when-will-martin-odegaard-return-from-his-injury/">
When will Martin Odegaard return from his injury?
</a>
</li><li>
<a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2019/11/23/arsenal-vs-southampton-5-things-learned-unai-emery-blame/"https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/11/10/2-midfielders-arsenal-could-sign-in-january-transfer-window/">
2 midfielders Arsenal could sign in January transfer window
</a>
</li><li>
<a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2019/11/23/arsenal-vs-southampton-5-things-learned-unai-emery-blame/"https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/11/10/thomas-partey-unlikely-to-play-for-arsenal-again-in-2023/">
Thomas Partey unlikely to play for Arsenal again in 2023
</a>
</li><li>
<a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2019/11/23/arsenal-vs-southampton-5-things-learned-unai-emery-blame/"https://paininthearsenal.com/2023/11/10/predicted-arsenal-lineup-vs-burnley-saka-fit-to-start/">
Predicted Arsenal lineup vs Burnley: Saka fit to start?
</a>
</li></ul>
</div>
<p>This was a typical Arsenal performance under Emery. They started slowly, the progression of play was extremely poor, unable to break lines consistently with smart, advancing passes, they then wrestled control of the game but lacked creativity in the final third, were bailed out by the strikers, and should have conceded far more than they did.</p>
<p>Southampton had 21 shots on Saturday. Southampton lost 9-0 to Leicester City, are second-bottom in the Premier League, and have Danny Ings up-front, who scored, incidentally. Arsenal have now allowed 45 shots in their last two home matches, against Southampton and Wolves. Whichever way you want to slice it, that is not good enough.</p>
<p>The underlying numbers are rubbish, the results are rubbish, the performances of the players are rubbish, the atmosphere around the club is rubbish, the team is rubbish. And there is one man to blame.</p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #c01f2f" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2019/11/23/arsenal-vs-southampton-5-things-learned-unai-emery-blame/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> 2. At least Lacazette can score </a>
</div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_95654" class="wp-caption aligncenter">
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-large wp-image-95654" src=https://paininthearsenal.com/2019/11/23/arsenal-vs-southampton-5-things-learned-unai-emery-blame/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_389,w_590/https%3A%2F%2Fpaininthearsenal.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2017%2F07%2F1189552058-850x560.jpeg" alt="" width="590" height="389"><div class="fs-center-img">
<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:590px;">LONDON, ENGLAND – NOVEMBER 23:Alexandre Lacazette of Arsenal scores his team’s first goal during the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Southampton FC at Emirates Stadium on November 23, 2019 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)</p>
</div>
</div>
<h4>2. At least Lacazette can score</h4>
<p>If you want to find one positive from Saturday’s 2-2 draw with Southampton, it is that they did not lose. But that is not really a positive, given that their opponents had just one point from their seven games prior and sat in 19th in the table. So, you will have to look a little further to find something worthy of praise.</p>
<p>That one thing is <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2019/11/23/arsenal-vs-southampton-5-things-learned-unai-emery-blame/"https://paininthearsenal.com/?s=alexandre+lacazette%22>Alexandre Lacazette</a>, who scored two goals as the leading centre-forward. Both finishes were excellent. One touch to control the ball, another to prod or slam it home. They looked simple, but the speed with which he controlled the ball and converted was sensational, a perfect illustration of his clinical instinct in and around the penalty area.</p>
<p>Throughout the Emery era, the only consistent positives have been the performances of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Lacazette. Despite the deplorable situation, they find themselves, both continue to display their quality time and again. On this occasion, it was Lacazette’s turn to share some of the glory.</p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #c01f2f" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2019/11/23/arsenal-vs-southampton-5-things-learned-unai-emery-blame/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> 1. This goes beyond Unai Emery </a>
</div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_95655" class="wp-caption aligncenter">
<img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="size-large wp-image-95655" src=https://paininthearsenal.com/2019/11/23/arsenal-vs-southampton-5-things-learned-unai-emery-blame/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_389,w_590/https%3A%2F%2Fpaininthearsenal.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2017%2F07%2F1189561441-850x560.jpeg" alt="" width="590" height="389"><div class="fs-center-img">
<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:590px;">LONDON, ENGLAND – NOVEMBER 23: Unai Emery, Manager of Arsenal gives his team instructions during the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Southampton FC at Emirates Stadium on November 23, 2019 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Harriet Lander/Getty Images)</p>
</div>
</div>
<h4>1. This goes beyond Unai Emery</h4>
<p><a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2019/11/23/arsenal-vs-southampton-5-things-learned-unai-emery-blame/"https://paininthearsenal.com/?s=unai+emery%22>Unai Emery</a> is a problem that needs to be solved. He is an inept coach in a job that he is not qualified for or able to succeed in. But now that has been learned, and learned quite plainly, the decision regarding the future of the team extends beyond the man himself.</p><div class="widget fs_ads"> <div class="fs_ad_widget-ad" style="margin:0 auto; width: 300px;"> <div class="fs-ll-ad" data-ad-type="minutemedia_slideshow_inline_300x250__desktop__tablet" data-vendor="minutemedia">
<div id="minutemedia_slideshow_inline_300x250__desktop__tablet" data-position="slideshow_inline" data-slot="inline_95632" style="width:300px;margin: 0 auto;">
<script>
googletag.cmd.push(function () {
googletag.defineSlot("/175840252/fansided.com/PainintheArsenal/mpu",[300, 250], "minutemedia_slideshow_inline_300x250__desktop__tablet")
.addService(googletag.pubads());
googletag.enableServices();
googletag.display("minutemedia_slideshow_inline_300x250__desktop__tablet");
});
</script>
</div>
</div> </div> </div>
<p>While Emery is the man who makes the decisions that affect the team, others are in charge of the man who makes the decisions. Technical Director Edu Gaspar and Head of Football Raul Sanllehi are the ones in power at the club. It is time for them to exercise that power.</p>
<p>It is quite obvious that Emery is suitable to lead Arsenal forward. He is unable to turn the team around. You do not need any more games to prove this. It has been made quite clear this season. And so, with that information now known, the obvious decision must be made.</p>
<div class="fs-shortcode" data-type="StoryLink" data-theme="dark" data-text="Arsenal Vs Southampton: Player ratings" data-url="https://paininthearsenal.com/2019/11/23/arsenal-vs-southampton-player-ratings-7/" data-call-to-action="Next"> <div class="story-link-next"> <a class="story-link-next-btn" style="background: #c01f2f" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="story-link-next-shortcode" href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2019/11/23/arsenal-vs-southampton-5-things-learned-unai-emery-blame/"https://paininthearsenal.com/2019/11/23/arsenal-vs-southampton-player-ratings-7/"> <span class="call_to_action">Next:</span> Arsenal Vs Southampton: Player ratings </a> </div>
</div>
<p>Arsenal want to be patient. They want to believe in the project. It is an admirable quality. But it is also foolish when it means they are backing the wrong man. Emery must be sacked, and if he isn’t, the criticisms extend far beyond the Spaniard.</p><!—pageview_candidate—></p>">
