Making the Grade: Match Day 4, Arsenal vs. Southampton

Southampton’s first trip to the Emirates Stadium this year resulted in a heartbreaking—and controversial—2-1 loss. Let’s hand out some grades.

This week’s match will no doubt be an especially bitter pill to swallow for supporters. Though far from perfect, this week’s clash was one of the most complete performances turned in all year.

The end result, though, was frustratingly familiar: a late penalty and a disappointing non-result. The final minutes of the match—an uncalled foul on Shane Long, play continuing during a Laurent Koscielny injury, and a questionable penalty—have already generated their share of press and drama.

But now the dust is settled and the match in the books. And as fans, it is our duty to faithfully armchair-analyse as we count down to next week. Let’s get to it!

Keepers

LONDON, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 10: Fraser Forster of Southampton in action during the Premier League match between Arsenal and Southampton at Emirates Stadium on September 10, 2016 in London, England. (Photo by Paul Gilham/Getty Images)

Fraser Forster got another workout at the hands of North London’s finest this weekend, with 17 shots coming his way. Of those, though, only two hit the target. Looking at the scoreline, we don’t need to tell you what became of those two.

I’m not going to say penalty saves are the easiest thing in the world, but its apparent that PKs are the big man’s Achilles heel. Maybe something to work on in training, along with watching some footage of PK takers from upcoming opponents.

I hate to slate Southampton’s #1 but 0-for-2 on shots-on-target isn’t a pretty picture for a keeper who could’ve played for England this week. Poor day at the office for the man between the sticks.

Grade: 2/10

Defence

LONDON, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 10: Lucas Perez of Arsenal challenged by Virgil Van Dijk of Southampton during the Premier League match between Arsenal and Southampton at Emirates Stadium on September 10, 2016 in London, England. (Photo by Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)

It’s becoming a pretty familiar pattern: at the back line, the team is a tale of two defences. On one hand, Virgil Van Dijk and newly-returned Ryan Bertrand run roughshod over Arsenal attacks and keep Mesut Ozil in their pocket all game. On the other, Euro 2016 heroes Jose Fonte and Cédric play themselves into trouble as often as they play out of it.

Keeping the dynamic attacking corps of Ozil, Perez, Oxlade-Chamberlain and Walcott silent for 90 minutes is no mean feat for the best of sides. For that, the back four deserve praise and get plenty from this writer.

But by the opposite token, a blunder in corner-marking left Laurent Koscielny wide open for Pele-like acrobatics to put the Gunners level. Any time you’re letting a centre-half score a flair shot in your box, you’re doing something wrong.

Overall, could be worse, but could also be a lot better.

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Standout: Ryan Bertrand

Bertrand didn’t disappoint in his first start of the season. Kept Mesut Ozil tied up all game and silenced any lingering doubts about his knees impacting his game. Not a bad way to remind everyone you’re still here.

Snoozer: Cédric, Jose Fonte (tie)

I honestly don’t get it. These two helped Portugal win Euro 2016 on the back of a very pragmatic, defensive gameplay. Ipso facto, they should be two of Europe’s better defenders. Yet it seems like every game they’re good for 1-2 minor errors that make their life much harder than it needs to be.

This week we saw them foul an Arsenal player who’d been sealed off into a corner, and nearly get sealed out while tracking back to retrieve a long ball. That’s not Premiership-level defending, plain and simple.

Readers should not that I’m not counting Fonte’s penalty in the consideration here. When the player you’re 50/50ing with turns to ask who drew the penalty, ’nuff said.

Grade: 6/10

Midfield

LONDON, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 10: Mesut Ozil of Arsenal (L) and Steven Davis of Southampton (R) battle for possession during the Premier League match between Arsenal and Southampton at Emirates Stadium on September 10, 2016 in London, England. (Photo by Paul Gilham/Getty Images)

My biggest fear for Southampton this week was that the midfield would get bossed. Arsenal’s midfield is big, physical and dominating and ours, well…isn’t. With the exception of Oriol Romeu and Pierre-Emile Højbjerg, the Saints aren’t exactly known for their hulking mids.

Needless to say, I was pleasantly surprised.

The midfield drifted between the 4-4-2 diamond and a 4-3-1-2 to compensate for Arsenal’s attacking prowess and wing-mids Steven Davis and Jordy Clasie did well in the role, sealing out and getting the ball forward.

When Clasie went off with injury, Pierre-Emile Højbjerg stepped up and put a bit of attacking pep into the midfield without compromising on defence.

Most pleasantly surprising was Oriol Romeu. Thus far this season, the word “anonymous” has been much-used to describe his play, but this week I felt he really stepped up and got involved where it counted. He may not be a Wanyama redux but he’s growing into the role nicely.

Standout: Steven Davis

Davis doesn’t get much love compared to his counterparts in midfield (or much stick either, for that matter) but Southampton’s 31 year old vet put in good work this time out. There’s a lot to be said for sealing off Ozil and Oxlade-Chamberlain like it’s just another day on the training ground.

Snoozer: Jordy Clasie

Maybe it’s a bit harsh, but I have to pick someone. Aside from going off injured I can’t think of anything Clasie did of note this time out. Not a horrible thing, but not a great one either.

Grade: 7/10

Forwards

LONDON, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 10: Dusan Tadic scores Southampton’s goal from a free kick past Petr Cech of Arsenal during the Premier League match between Arsenal and Southampton at Emirates Stadium on September 10, 2016 in London, England. (Photo by David Price/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)

Southampton’s front three men put together their most complete performance of the season so far, with Puel opting to start Nathan Redmond and Dusan Tadic alongside last week’s hero Jay Rodriguez. Tadic got on the board (or would have, if not for Petr Cech’s fingertips) off a free-kick to put Southampton up 1-0.

Fun fact: that was Southampton’s first lead all season. Other fun fact: apparently you can get an assist off an own-goal. Good to know there’s at least some cosmic justice.

Redmond had an alright game but seemed to lose possession more than the last few outings. Here’s hoping it was a one-time case of the drops.

Jay Rodriguez going off at halftime was puzzling, to say the least, given that he was putting good work in. One imagines Puel is trying to save him for Thursday against Sparta Praha, but if the gaffer’s said anything on that I haven’t heard it.

Which brings me to Shane Long. I want to like Long. He’s got pace to put Jamie Vardy to shame, unfortunately it seems increasingly like that’s all he’s got. Three chances, three golden opportunities with Petr Cech dead-to-rights, and all botched. With the benefit of hindsight, keep J-Rod on a bit longer and bring Charlie Austin on to replace him when the time is right.

Maybe Puel will make Forster and Long train exclusively together this week. Either one learns to stop close-in shots, or the other learns to finish them. Either way, win-win.

Standout: Dusan Tadic

I’ve given our Serbian striker a lot of stick these past few weeks, but I can give credit where it’s due. Petr Cech’s fingertips be damned, that goal was entirely on him. Good work, and hopefully the first of many.

Snoozer: Shane Long

See above.

Grade: 6.5/10