Saints 1-0 Arsenal - Match Thread

[Saint Fan CaM]

Front four not doing enough for me...poor quality movement.  Need a 2nd to really get Arsenal on the back foot. Otherwise we're looking good value.😉

[OttawaSaint]

That OG was the first Saints goal I’d seen live since Redmond’s vs Sheff Utd. Only saw second half vs Arsenal, was late for the Liverpool game and didn’t watch Shrewsbury due to work.

[Turkish]

This offside rule does my head in, just out the flag up when they’re off ffs.

[Saint Pete]

1 minute ago, Saint Fan CaM said:

Front four not doing enough for me...poor quality movement.  Need a 2nd to really get Arsenal on the back foot. Otherwise we're looking good value.😉

We look dangerous, just need a bit more precision around the box.

[adrian lord]

Saints taters bingo

 

1. “Nine-nil”       X
2. “Austrian Klopp”. 
3. “Like to press...” X
4. "Famed Academy"
5. “This is one for Ward-Prowse” X
6. “Excellent first half” X
7. “Unlucky not to go in more than one nil up” X
8. “ Southampton haven’t got going since the break“
9. "The equaliser was coming"
10. “Saints struggling since going behind“
11. “Ralph Hassenhutl is about to bring on Shane Long as Saints try to chase the game“ X
12. ”Walcott celebrated his goal against his old club at the Emirates...”. X

 

Edited 23 January, 2021 by adrian lord

[nta786]

Bednarek has been my MOTM this half 

[HarvSFC]

Why did Arsenal sign Cedric?

[nta786]

2 minutes ago, adrian lord said:

Saints taters bingo

 

1. “Nine-nil”       X
2. “Austrian Klopp”. 
3. “Like to press...” X
4. "Famed Academy"
5. “This is one for Ward-Prowse” X
6. “Excellent first half”
7. “Unlucky not to go in more than one nil up”
8. “ Southampton haven’t got going since the break“
9. "The equaliser was coming"
10. “Saints struggling since going behind“
11. “Ralph Hassenhutl is about to bring on Shane Long as Saints try to chase the game“

 

Haha agreed

I’d add number 12 “This is a familiar theme for Southampton- they’ve dropped the most points from winning positions since Hasenhuttl arrived at the club” (cue that stupid annoying graphic)

[OttawaSaint]

When I switched  on the TV this morning first thing I saw was Bobby Stokes’ goal. Hoping that’s a sign.

[Saint Pete]

JWP opportunity!

[igsey]

1 minute ago, HarvSFC said:

Why did Arsenal sign Cedric?

"Depth".

 

He's been absolutely awful for them as a left back.

[trousers]

We are so close to being a 'perfect' team when all our players are fit and playing at the top of their game. Such a well oiled machine.

[OttawaSaint]

1 minute ago, HarvSFC said:

Why did Arsenal sign Cedric?

Cos he’s small and foreign?

[Mr X]

2 minutes ago, HarvSFC said:

Why did Arsenal sign Cedric?

Cheap cover? Hes bound to score now you've said that! 

[OttawaSaint]

Ref and Lino conned there. Jesus, the whole ball has to go out!

[Chez]

8 minutes ago, Saint Fan CaM said:

Front four not doing enough for me...poor quality movement.  Need a 2nd to really get Arsenal on the back foot. Otherwise we're looking good value.😉

they (front four) are working hellishly hard to press and turn over possession, and making some nice runs too. Not sure what more you want from them.

[Turkish]

Cedrics crossing hasn’t improved then

[nta786]

Cedric’s cross 😂 I don’t want to jinx it though when he gets lucky second half

[jameslastfan]

Missed Cedric’s crossing.

[trousers]

Lol @ Cedric's crossing 

[Saint_Ash]

Great half

[davefizzy14]

Very good half from us

[OttawaSaint]

Thought Saints were excellent in that half. The pressing is causing mayhem for the Arsenal defence. Need to capitalize though. 

[Chez]

Really like Walcott at right midfield. He races back to support KWP defensively and then races the other way to support the attack. Love his effort and think this is his best position. Not right wing, right midfield. 

[Baird of the land]

Just a shame we couldn't get a 2nd goal for all that domination.

[trousers]

Superb first half. Just a shame there's a certain inevitably / predictability that Arsenal will up their game in the second half and we won't be quite as good, which will level things out somewhat. Prove me wrong Saints and maintain that domination for 90 mins!

[Chez]

Just now, OttawaSaint said:

Thought Saints were excellent in that half. The pressing is causing mayhem for the Arsenal defence. Need to capitalize though. 

agreed. Helped by Arsenal being sloppy. It was similar at Leicester though. In that game the foxes improved and we couldn't maintain the press. Hope that doesnt happen here.

[obelisk]

Saints snappier in and around their box. Just need a bit more composure when in good positions.

[NewYorkSaint]

11 minutes ago, adrian lord said:

Saints taters bingo

 

1. “Nine-nil”       X
2. “Austrian Klopp”. 
3. “Like to press...” X
4. "Famed Academy"
5. “This is one for Ward-Prowse” X
6. “Excellent first half”
7. “Unlucky not to go in more than one nil up”
8. “ Southampton haven’t got going since the break“
9. "The equaliser was coming"
10. “Saints struggling since going behind“
11. “Ralph Hassenhutl is about to bring on Shane Long as Saints try to chase the game“

 

Brilliant.   My number 12.  "Southampton's back-line caught napping there from the free kick..."

 

[NewYorkSaint]

I don't think there's been a game this season where we haven't been strong in the first half. Even against Spurs.  Our high press is terrifying for so many teams. But we burn a lot of energy. Second half is usually another story. Here's hoping we can find another goal....

[Saint Fan CaM]

3 minutes ago, Chez said:

they (front four) are working hellishly hard to press and turn over possession, and making some nice runs too. Not sure what more you want from them.

Sorry Chez...not laughing at you  but you missed the winky thingy signifying reverse logic! 

Anyway, we've looked like like real team again with the line-up. Personally think Diallo is looking like a starting contender against Romeu now...very good partner for JWP. Overall, if we maintain discipline and score a 2nd the game is ours. Not sure I'd like to call MOTM yet, but Bednarek and KWP have both been solid.

[trousers]

Crouch saying JWP's 'shot' from the corner wasn't intentional... Hmm...

[SNSUN]

Poor Gabriel,  sent off last time we played them, own goal today. He'll be crapping himself every time he plays us! 

 

It took me 20 mins to get my stream app working as our broadband is slow, then got it on and we scored.

 

Far from over but I'd have taken one nil at half time. Concentration needed. 

I take it we got to ET and pens not a replay?

[markr27]

JWP needs to have a go for the opposite corner once in a while - Leno was almost touching the post compared to the gap left to his left-side.... 

Edited 23 January, 2021 by markr27

[Turkish]

13 minutes ago, trousers said:

Lol @ Cedric's crossing 

This still haughts me 

Edited 23 January, 2021 by Turkish

[Mr X]

Great first half as is the pattern with us lately a poor second half coming up

[Foxy]

5 minutes ago, NewYorkSaint said:

I don't think there's been a game this season where we haven't been strong in the first half. Even against Spurs.  Our high press is terrifying for so many teams. But we burn a lot of energy. Second half is usually another story. Here's hoping we can find another goal....

One good reason Saints would be well served if it went to 5 subs. If they had the squad to fill the bench

[Mr X]

1 minute ago, Foxy said:

One good reason Saints would be well served if it went to 5 subs. If they had the squad to fill the bench

We tend to give it all first half and nowt second half hope I'm proved wrong 

[Whitey Grandad]

6 minutes ago, SNSUN said:

Poor Gabriel,  sent off last time we played them, own goal today. He'll be crapping himself every time he plays us! 

 

It took me 20 mins to get my stream app working as our broadband is slow, then got it on and we scored.

 

Far from over but I'd have taken one nil at half time. Concentration needed. 

I take it we got to ET and pens not a replay?

Correct. No replay.

[trousers]

Superb defending there from Diallo 

[Chez]

7 minutes ago, Saint Fan CaM said:

Sorry Chez...not laughing at you  but you missed the winky thingy signifying reverse logic! 

Anyway, we've looked like like real team again with the line-up. Personally think Diallo is looking like a starting contender against Romeu now...very good partner for JWP. Overall, if we maintain discipline and score a 2nd the game is ours. Not sure I'd like to call MOTM yet, but Bednarek and KWP have both been solid.

gotcha. I call that reverse psychology the `Lee Dixon effect'. You say a player is shit, they score a worldy. You say they are great, they have a stinker.

Really like Diallo, but Romeu was POTS candidate before injury. Central midfield now a strength. Thank god we got rid of Hoj. Little surprise the results have followed. The engine room of any side is critical. Happy days.

[danjosaint]

Diallo with some serious pace there to wind in pepe 

[OttawaSaint]

Lots of niggly fouls. Ref needs to book one of these Arse players.

[Chickendippers]

Brilliant covering from Diallo

[nta786]

Unlucky Danny! He was offside tho

[OttawaSaint]

Post and nearly in off the rebound, ffs!

[trousers]

Shit. Ings so close. Offside though 

[OttawaSaint]

Just now, nta786 said:

Unlucky Danny! He was offside tho

Lol. Was all confused when I looked up and we weren’t taking a corner.

[Chez]

4 minutes ago, Mr X said:

We tend to give it all first half and nowt second half hope I'm proved wrong 

teams improve, rejig formations and we tire. Not sure there is any less effort second half, just struggle to match it. Arsenal were terrible first half. They can only get better. Not sure we can much more than we did, so probably can only ever get worse.

[trousers]

1 minute ago, Chickendippers said:

Brilliant covering from Diallo

As much as I rate Romeu, Arsenal would have been in on goal there if Romeu was on the pitch instead of Diallo.