Arsenal 3-3 Saints - Match Thread

[Whitey Grandad]

4 minutes ago, Lee On Solent Saint said:

I disagree. I think Pickford or Pope do better 

Is that the same Pickford who ‘let’ four goals go past him at the same stadium from 5 shots on target?

[Chez]

3 minutes ago, Saint Garrett said:

Selles said he brought on a centre back and went 5 at the back to protect the 2 full backs who were also on yellows at HT. it made sense when you take the emotion out of it, but sadly, it’s probably more the fault of the players who got booked in the first half. KWP’s was never a yellow though 

Another good reason for that sub then.

hmm. Martinelli had done him. Bloody hell he was quick. Their wingers too both full backs apart. Saka waltzed past Perraud for the first goal. Thought Perraud had a decent game overall though. KWP really struggled. 

[Saint Matty 76]

6 minutes ago, Saint Garrett said:

Selles said he brought on a centre back and went 5 at the back to protect the 2 full backs who were also on yellows at HT. it made sense when you take the emotion out of it, but sadly, it’s probably more the fault of the players who got booked in the first half. KWP’s was never a yellow though 

Completely agree with this perspective. Leaving their two wingers one-on-one with our full-backs was a disaster waiting to happen. The Lyanco sub I actually thought was excellent.

Onuachu made no sense and whilst I'm sure he's more informed than I am on this one (could've easily been asking to come off), I would rather Lavia at 30% than Diallo at 100.

[harvey]

1 minute ago, Chez said:

Another good reason for that sub then.

hmm. Martinelli had done him. Bloody hell he was quick. Their wingers too both full backs apart. Saka waltzed past Perraud for the first goal. Thought Perraud had a decent game overall though. KWP really struggled. 

At the end of the day we're shit and deserve to go down...it is what it is!

[Matty's Caddy]

41 minutes ago, ButtikonSaint said:

yeah you're right.. AA was on for 9 less mins 

 

Was he playing?

[OnceaSaintalwaysaSaint]

For those that say "would you take a point before the game started?" isn't really relevant, because the question should be would you take a point when you're 2 up with 7mins + added time to go? We missed a real chance to negate the Palace loss but blew it - I should be grateful, the hope hasn't returned.

[Chez]

 

3 minutes ago, Matty's Caddy said:

Was he playing?

he honestly did nothing other chasing shadows. There were very few moments when he got the chance to do something with ball, but he looked as hesitant as ever. He's a busted flush

[Chez]

4 minutes ago, OnceaSaintalwaysaSaint said:

For those that say "would you take a point before the game started?" isn't really relevant, because the question should be would you take a point when you're 2 up with 7mins + added time to go? 

Nope, but I'll tell you what, at 3-3 with five minutes left, I'd of taken a point.

[Tamesaint]

13 minutes ago, Chez said:

Maybe. But did you see Pope let one straight through him the other day? Exactly the kind of goal we have been slating Bazunu for. Other keepers do fuck up too. We only give a fuck about our own.

Not sure this draw was down to him. 

Imagine the outcry on here if Baz had made the same mistake as Ramsdale did in the first minute. 

[Lee On Solent Saint]

12 minutes ago, Whitey Grandad said:

Is that the same Pickford who ‘let’ four goals go past him at the same stadium from 5 shots on target?

That's the chap. England keeper I think. 50 odd caps. Saved Everton a hell of lot more points than Bazuna has done for us. 

[sandwichsaint]

I thought Lavia was excellent for 60 mins. Round about 70 I said where’s Lavia gone? Big gaps through the middle and constant pressure on the top of our box. Was he injured? Had the trainer on in the first half and went to ground again in the second half.

if he’d stayed on no guarantee that he could/would replicate his first half performance. 
 

Lads gave their all tonight, but ultimately they have the players and set up to be first/second best in the league, we are where we are. Six more of those performances and we stay up.

I fully don’t expect us to, inexperienced manager and much too weak squad. Let’s go down gracefully, regroup, and go again with a proper manager and much better recruitment (we would have been better off giving Brighton’s recruitment man £15m than signing tall Paul).
 

 

[SaintTex]

1 hour ago, FarehamSaintJames said:

Prowsy was fuming when that third goal went in. 

The ball went right between JWP’s legs on the pass into the box on that 3rd goal. 
 

Actually on that 3rd goal, it went between JWP’s first, then the shot went between Lycano’s legs, and then the rebounded shot went between ABK’s legs. 
 

brilliant. 

Edited 21 April, 2023 by SaintTex

[Lee On Solent Saint]

15 minutes ago, Chez said:

Maybe. But did you see Pope let one straight through him the other day? Exactly the kind of goal we have been slating Bazunu for. Other keepers do fuck up too. We only give a fuck about our own.

Not sure this draw was down to him. 

Absolutely agree keepers, even the best make errors. Just that we seem to have found one that has cost us a fair few points across the season.

[saintant]

19 minutes ago, Boris Karloff said:

I think one of the reasons Bazunu is so frustrating is bc he never really gets close to things. It might be asking a lot for him to save their second. It would have to be a worldy like Ramsdale's against Salah a couple of weeks ago. But he was nowhere near it. 

We did well to repel most of their pressure tonight but mostly it was from blocking the shots coming in. It wasn't from a great goalkeeping performance. It never is. 

I think for Odegaard's goal a top keeper anticipates he'll go for that corner and is on the move thus giving him a better chance of making the save - Bazunu waits for the shot to be hit then dives so is invariably far too late. I think one of his greatest weaknesses is his lack of anticipation

[Chez]

1 minute ago, sandwichsaint said:

I thought Lavia was excellent for 60 mins. Round about 70 I said where’s Lavia gone? Big gaps through the middle and constant pressure on the top of our box. Was he injured? Had the trainer on in the first half and went to ground again in the second half.

if he’d stayed on no guarantee that he could/would replicate his first half performance. 
 

Lads gave their all tonight, but ultimately they have the players and set up to be first/second best in the league, we are where we are. Six more of those performances and we stay up.

I fully don’t expect us to, inexperienced manager and much too weak squad. Let’s go down gracefully, regroup, and go again with a proper manager and much better recruitment (we would have been better off giving Brighton’s recruitment man £15m than signing tall Paul).
 

 

good post. Lavia had disappeared and was down to fumes. We needed an extra sub.

[jabei]

36 minutes ago, Chez said:

Arsenal ran us ragged from start to finish. The performance wasn't all that. Just fans expectations are much lower when we play the top teams. 

Exactly this. Tonight was no better than against Palace other than we took our chances. Our general play this season has been below average with the odd bit of excitement when we actually score a goal. This fictional “fight” and “passion” was no more evident tonight than any other time for the past 5 years or so. 

[Saint Matty 76]

1 minute ago, saintant said:

I think for Odegaard's goal a top keeper anticipates he'll go for that corner and is on the move thus giving him a better chance of making the save - Bazunu waits for the shot to be hit then dives so is invariably far too late. I think one of his greatest weaknesses is his lack of anticipation

I think you are absolutely spot on. This leads to goals like today, Liverpool A, West Ham A, Leeds H amongst others which didn't immediately pop to mind.

[woodsaint1]

4 minutes ago, saintant said:

I think for Odegaard's goal a top keeper anticipates he'll go for that corner and is on the move thus giving him a better chance of making the save - Bazunu waits for the shot to be hit then dives so is invariably far too late. I think one of his greatest weaknesses is his lack of anticipation

You support Southampton, we dont attract 'top keepers' so not sure what point you're trying to make. That shot easily beats all of our previous 4 keepers - Forster, McCarthy, Boruc and Davis

[saintant]

Just now, woodsaint1 said:

You support Southampton, we dont attract 'top keepers' so not sure what point you're trying to make. That shot easily beats all of our previous 4 keepers - Forster, McCarthy, Boruc and Davis

I think the point I'm trying to make is obvious. Not sure what it has to do with our previous keepers.

[badgerx16]

1 hour ago, woodsaint1 said:

And it was like being back at the WC, where the hell did 8 minutes come from? Ref was determined to fuck us over

Does it matter ? It was 3-3 before added time started.

[Chez]

just to move away from the Bazunu conversation for a second...what a great second goal that was. Lovely weight of pass and very well taken. Makes a change.

[Colinjb]

Nothing, nothing about that game went to expectation.

Utterly bizarre.

Glad we showed some fight, yet....... So much joy and so much predictable nonsense.

That was the kind of game that makes us love and hate football. We are in the championship next year, but I want more of this....if we go we go fighting.

[Hodds37]

As said the Lavia sub cost us 2 points. 

Was comfortable 3-1 until then. 

Bad sub sellas 🙄

[Saint Garrett]

3 minutes ago, Hodds37 said:

As said the Lavia sub cost us 2 points. 

Was comfortable 3-1 until then. 

Bad sub sellas 🙄

In hindsight yes, he was absolutely shattered though. Sure Selles would have preferred to keep him on if he could…

[bpsaint]

On the train waiting to leave Waterloo, absolutely gutted. What a way to throw away a win. So fucking similar to the heartbreak or Arsenal away in 04/05.

Selles fucked us taking off Lavia. So naive, what was he thinking, we were in control.

[austsaint]

6 minutes ago, Chez said:

just to move away from the Bazunu conversation for a second...what a great second goal that was. Lovely weight of pass and very well taken. Makes a change.

Glorious goal - sublimely weighted pass from Alcaraz and the neat Walcott finish.  Downside was that the prospect of keeping Alcaraz next season probably diminished.

[sandwichsaint]

5 minutes ago, bpsaint said:

On the train waiting to leave Waterloo, absolutely gutted. What a way to throw away a win. So fucking similar to the heartbreak or Arsenal away in 04/05.

Selles fucked us taking off Lavia. So naive, what was he thinking, we were in control.

Fair play for going etc. But we really weren’t ‘in control’ at any point of that game. Deep defence, desperate defending and hoofed out balls never constitutes ‘in control’.

[Galway saint]

21 minutes ago, Saint Matty 76 said:

I think you are absolutely spot on. This leads to goals like today, Liverpool A, West Ham A, Leeds H amongst others which didn't immediately pop to mind.

Agreed he often finds him in the wrong position meaning he’s not able to make the save that should be made. next season we can give ourselves 10 points by getting a decent experienced keeper. That should be the first item on the agenda for whoever is appointed 

[sandwichsaint]

7 minutes ago, austsaint said:

Glorious goal - sublimely weighted pass from Alcaraz and the neat Walcott finish.  Downside was that the prospect of keeping Alcaraz next season probably diminished.

Yep, good move by RS to hide him away second half, had something of the shop window about his first half performance- And to think he couldn’t make the starting XI half a dozen times in our easy run of fixtures. Weird.

[suewhistle]

Back from the pub and have been making my pizza dough for tomorrow: look on it as therapy.. It's the hope that kills you. I was in a Portsmouth area pub and the landlord bet on Saints! He also cashed out at just the right time too: no mug!

To be honest I could understand some of the subs: Lavia was knacked, but Alcaraz had fuel left in the tank when he came off. But Elyounoussi.. why did he stay on, and then he goes down with cramp?! Didn't track back for their goal, lost the ball in a promising attacking situation and just generally groan inducing: none of the other players bring out the same reaction in me.

Another "why".. Armstrong? He runs around to so little effect. When you think about it, our performance with 9 players was actually very good..

Seeing three Saints goals though was rather heartening - it would be nice to see them at St. Marys to make the pain of buying a season ticket a little less.

[bpsaint]

1 hour ago, sandwichsaint said:

Fair play for going etc. But we really weren’t ‘in control’ at any point of that game. Deep defence, desperate defending and hoofed out balls never constitutes ‘in control’.

True, but being 3-1 up in the 87th minute is us in control. A good side would have seen out the game.

Edited 22 April, 2023 by bpsaint

[jimmer42]

3-3 away to the top of the  league side and hearing stuff such as 'hanging on for 90 mins' and basically slagging off the team....bunch of c*unt fans getting what they deserve

[OttawaSaint]

Bazunu, Selles need to leave immediately and anyone else who thinks it's acceptable to keep picking a keeper who parries the ball straight out for opposing players to tuck in need to go with them. 

A bottom 10 full of shit teams and we gift goals and 3 points. Shocking!

[saintant]

I think some are perhaps being a bit harsh on that performance - there was much to admire even though it was disappointing not to come away with 3 points. We are all frustrated so are maybe not giving the team the credit they deserve. Even at 3-1 I'm sure most of us suspected that when Arsenal got that goal back they'd go on to draw or even win as there was plenty of time to go.  The loss of two points away to the League leaders is not what will relegate us it's the many sub-standard performances against lesser sides. It was a great game to watch, one of the best we've been involved in all season and we can take far more out of it than the countless drab games where we lost 1-0 and barely laid a glove on our opponents.

[Cabrone]

Good performance but why didn't the players show this against the teams around us? Beat Man City, Chelsea and very nearly Arsenal but yet manage to lose to the lower teams. Bizarre.

[austsaint]

1 minute ago, suewhistle said:

Back from the pub and have been making my pizza dough for tomorrow: look on it as therapy.. It's the hope that kills you. I was in a Portsmouth area pub and the landlord bet on Saints! He also cashed out at just the right time too: no mug!

To be honest I could understand some of the subs: Lavia was knacked, but Alcaraz had fuel left in the tank when he came off. But Elyounoussi.. why did he stay on, and then he goes down with cramp?! Didn't track back for their goal, lost the ball in a promising attacking situation and just generally groan inducing: none of the other players bring out the same reaction in me.

Another "why".. Armstrong? He runs around to so little effect. When you think about it, our performance with 9 players was actually very good..

Seeing three Saints goals though was rather heartening - it would be nice to see them at St. Marys to make the pain of buying a season ticket a little less.

Yet there are people claiming Elyounoussi played well??   While it was true (as many have pointed out) that KWP and Perraud had their hands full containing Martinelli and Saka, neither of them got much help from Elyounoussi or Armstrong.   I'll never understand the Selles faith in Elyounoussi; it's like a feeble concession to our prospects of commanding a game.  One of many decisions by Selles that must disqualify him from continuing as Manager.

Good luck with the pizza dough.    

[jabei]

13 minutes ago, Cabrone said:

Good performance but why didn't the players show this against the teams around us? Beat Man City, Chelsea and very nearly Arsenal but yet manage to lose to the lower teams. Bizarre.

Show what? The performance was exactly the same as against Palace other than we took our chances goal wise

[woodsaint1]

47 minutes ago, badgerx16 said:

Does it matter ? It was 3-3 before added time started.

Just an observation. And sorry to go all MLG on you but Saka scored 90+1 👍🏻 

[JRM]

55 minutes ago, bpsaint said:

On the train waiting to leave Waterloo, absolutely gutted. What a way to throw away a win. So fucking similar to the heartbreak or Arsenal away in 04/05.

Selles fucked us taking off Lavia. So naive, what was he thinking, we were in control.

Just saying the same thing, exactly the same as 04/05 collapse at the end and chuck it away, gutting, had just allowed myself a bit of hope. Arsenal fans to the right of us some of the mouthiest I've seen, lovely to put a dent in their title hopes and at least one of them will regret leaning over so close to the away end celebrating their 3rd 

[Ed Rooney]

43 minutes ago, OttawaSaint said:

Bazunu, Selles need to leave immediately and anyone else who thinks it's acceptable to keep picking a keeper who parries the ball straight out for opposing players to tuck in need to go with them. 

A bottom 10 full of shit teams and we gift goals and 3 points. Shocking!

Oh do fuck off with your constant Bazunu blame. He’s got absolute fuck all protection in front of him. They let crosses come in without pressure, they let shots come in without pressure. He’s a young keeper who yes may not be top premier league standard yet, but he will be a good keeper…. Unfortunately week in week out he is behind a bunch of clowns.

Edited 21 April, 2023 by Ed Rooney

[Appy]

I don’t buy that a point was a good result regardless of how the game went, we’ve fucked this season so much that we had to win, and leading 3-1 that late into a game, you have to win, it’s as simple as that. 

Edited 21 April, 2023 by Appy

[warsash saint]

Posters blaming Bazuno for parrying the ball back into play ... absolutely clueless!

 

Please tell me where he's meant to put it????????????

[Dragon_man]

I get the going to 5 at the back at HT, but Alcaraz? High on confidence, playing well and driving the team. For me, I'd have hooked Ely, Walcott or AA and left the threat on the pitch. Bizarre sub.

[Sir Ralph]

Alcaraz was absolutely class scored one, set up with a world class pass and saved a goal.

Edited 22 April, 2023 by Sir Ralph

[Sir Ralph]

37 minutes ago, Ed Rooney said:

Oh do fuck off with your constant Bazunu blame. He’s got absolute fuck all protection in front of him. They let crosses come in without pressure, they let shots come in without pressure. He’s a young keeper who yes may not be top premier league standard yet, but he will be a good keeper…. Unfortunately week in week out he is behind a bunch of clowns.

Ok how many points has he saved us this year? How many points has he lost us?

[Dark Munster]

4 minutes ago, Dragon_man said:

I get the going to 5 at the back at HT, but Alcaraz? High on confidence, playing well and driving the team. For me, I'd have hooked Ely, Walcott or AA and left the threat on the pitch. Bizarre sub.

Yes, it was madness to take off Alcaraz at HT. I can see the logic in taking off an attacking player and bringing on Lyanco, but it had to be invisible AArmstrong, not our best player (by a mile), FFS.

[Rivers]

 

Absolutely devasted.

The word deflated was created for this moment.

If there is any kind of fate or destiny which is governing such things, then you are a massive cunt.

[S-Clarke]

1 hour ago, Saint Garrett said:

In hindsight yes, he was absolutely shattered though. Sure Selles would have preferred to keep him on if he could…

Exactly, I made the point earlier that this sub alone isn't one to rant about. The issue with the sub was the replacement coming off of the bench, and sadly that's the case with a lot of our subs.

If we'd have kept Romeu and made that same sub tonight with Romeu coming off the bench, we win that and everyone would be praising Selles.

[JRM]

1 hour ago, Appy said:

I don’t buy that a point was a good result regardless of how the game went, we’ve fucked this season so much that we had to win, and leading 3-1 that late into a game, you have to win, it’s as simple as that. 

Agree felt like a defeat at the end 

[Roo1976]

2 hours ago, saintant said:

I think for Odegaard's goal a top keeper anticipates he'll go for that corner and is on the move thus giving him a better chance of making the save - Bazunu waits for the shot to be hit then dives so is invariably far too late. I think one of his greatest weaknesses is his lack of anticipation

i think one of his weakness is not gathering in shots ,and always wanting to keep the ball in play in the wrong areas, so as our defenders have little or no chance to react.