Arsenal came away from a frustrating game with Southampton unable to take the huge opportunities they created for themselves. The Gunners' number nine, Gabriel Jesus, spurned a number of big opportunities with Saints clinical with their big chance of the game.
Mikel Arteta tried to make key changes throughout the second half to encourage his young side to take the initiative, but in what have been very few underwhelming performances this season, the luck wasn't on the Gunners' side. Arsenal now lead the table by just two points, having lost the cushion to Manchester City.
The game contained plenty of interesting moments that weren't caught by the television cameras. Luckily football.london were inside St Mary's and can provide insight on what you might have missed.
READ MORE: Southampton vs Arsenal LIVE: Xhaka gives Gunners lead as referee chaos hands Saints hope
Captain’s orders
Arsenal dominated the early stages of the game with chance after chance. Every time the Gunners saw the ball go dead from a goal kick or corner, the unofficial captaincy figure Granit Xhaka was barking orders to his team.
Moving them into position and working the structure. He received comments from Mikel Arteta on the sideline, and clearly, it had an impact. Just minutes later, Ben White crossed for the 30-year-old, who confidently tucked the ball away.
Xhaka anger after Lyanco antics rile Arsenal
The Southampton right-back caused the Arsenal players some serious frustration. Firstly he appeared to elbow Gabriel Jesus needlessly in the back and the mistake of winding up Xhaka.
Off the ball and off screen, he barged the Swiss midfielder to the 30-year-old’s inevitable annoyance. Xhaka though, a new man seemingly on and off the ball too, remained calm and walked away from the situation.
Old friends catch up
Despite both not being in their respective starting elevens, Rob Holding and Theo Walcott found time to chat as they both warmed up on the sidelines. The pair spent one-and-a-half years together at the club after Holding joined from Bolton in 2016.
Walcott left Arsenal for Everton in January of 2018 for a reported £20m fee. One of the highest Arsenal have received from a player in recent years, something which technical director Edu needs to work hard to fix in the coming transfer windows.
Arteta anger at losing a “duel”
The Arsenal manager was made even more famous for the “If I lose a duel, I run” line that came out of the Amazon All or Nothing: Arsenal documentary. The game in which the Gunners were knocked out of the FA Cup to Nottingham Forest saw the Spaniard lose his characteristically cool at the team.
So, when Gabriel Martinelli failed to chase back intensely enough after possession was turned over, Arteta could be seen on the sideline shouting out of his technical area. It is fair to say the Brazilian responded and kept the energy at a far higher level.
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