Our string of festive victories came to an end yesterday as we went down 2-0 away at Southampton. We started the game with our first choice back four but a makeshift midfield left us struggling to control the game as we like too. Not to mention not having a single fit striker apart from Giroud who's stupidity to get sent of the other day is proving costly. Alexis started the game upfront but never really got going.
However the most disappointing part of the game was that we gifted them both their goals quite literally. The first was poor defending from Kos combined with a SZCZ moment that reminded me more of Almunia. The pole came tearing out of his goal and forced Mane wide, but as Koscielny decided to linger in the middle rather than go to him Mane lobbed SZCZ and with a lot of spin and a strong wind blowing goal-wards the ball bobbled over the line.
The game continued and bar an effort from Cazorla that was well saved by Forster we offered very little. Then another moment of madness from the Pole in goal gifted Tadic with the easiest goal he'll ever score. A ball in it hit Debuchy and rolled to the feet of SZCZ who was on the floor at the time and instead of letting the Frenchman clear up, SZCZ poked the ball away from him and straight to Tadic.
The atmosphere in the away end was poisonous, the point proven when a fan (somehow) managed to reach the dugout and confront Wenger. Obviously not something we like to see but its so easy for our fans to turn at the moment. One moment we a string some wins together and all is well. The next we lose and it's back to tit for tat within our own ranks.
I don't know what to make of Arsenal at the moment really. Blowing hot and cold. We have Hull in the cup on Sunday and in my opinion this is a good chance to rest the likes of Sanchez who clearly is exhausted.
In other news Lukas Podolski's time at the club appears to have come to an end. The German International has made it quite clear before that he wants to be playing football and at his age I can understand that. Still I will miss him and I think he's a good option to have and in recent times has been underused in my opinion. At the moment it is unclear whether it is a loan with a view to a permanent move or just a straight forward transfer, either way it appears he's played his last game for the gunners. I wish him all the best.
