It wasn’t a very merry Christmas at all for Arsenal supporters after their usually successful Boxing Day as far as football’s concerned. Having not lost on Boxing Day since 1999, and with the chance to overtake Leicester City and become league leaders for not just one night or so, it was expected the favourites for the league title would come out all guns blazing, but Arsenal being Arsenal, it went completely opposite.
Not only did they face defeat, they got battered, 4-0, away to a team that has picked up only a point out of a possible 15. It couldn’t seem easier for Arsenal to take first position, but they usually find it hard on the road when travelling to Southampton.
The Saints took the lead after a defensive error from captain Per Mertesacker, and it stayed the same until half-time. Southampton then had a goal disallowed for offside, which should have given Arsenal a bit of a wake-up call, but didn’t, and 1-0 quickly became 2-0, then 3-0, eventually after a long second half for the Gunners, ended 4-0.
What five things need to be taken into consideration after today’s woeful performance?
