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#3 Unai Emery's tactical changes backfire
After a lengthy unbeaten run, this was always going to happen. It was a case of when, rather than who, Arsenal would eventually lost to. But the manner of their defeat feels like so many previous during the latter stages of the Arsene Wenger era - which ultimately has to fall at the manager's lap on this occasion.
Sure, his players started slowly and didn't establish a proper rhythm. Yes, there are key players sidelined through respective injuries. Those are not good enough excuses.
Southampton had won only one of their 16 Premier League games this season, prior to this fixture. So even under new management, fresh impetus and a refreshed home support, Arsenal should have had more than enough to beat them.
Playing a 3-4-3 formation certainly didn't help, as Southampton were often able to create overloads with acres of space to work into whenever they had the ball in midfield areas.
Granit Xhaka and Stephan Lichtsteiner are not centre-backs. Both have played there sparingly in their careers - but partnering a returning Koscielny with those two was asking for trouble.
Not because they're not good enough, but the partnership just doesn't work. Instead, why not play a four-back formation with Nacho Monreal - who can and has played there for Arsenal previously - alongside the experienced Frenchman?
This is how Emery should have started instead:
(4-3-1-2): Leno; Maitland-Niles/Lichtsteiner, Monreal, Koscielny, Bellerin; Xhaka, Torreira, Guendouzi; Mkhitaryan; Aubameyang, Lacazette.
That's assuming Mesut couldn't start and play a full 90 minutes, while Iwobi could feature as an impact second-half sub. By shackling Xhaka at the back, rather than alongside Guendouzi/Torreira, you lose one of his best strengths - dictating play forward from those deep midfield roles.
Monreal hadn't started a full game since October 7, the 5-1 win at Fulham. Why increase his workload so drastically by starting him at wing-back? One thing is clear: Emery doesn't yet know his strongest starting eleven.
