At a Glance:
- Arsenal were knocked out of the FA Cup by Southampton on Saturday night.
- Max Dowman’s performance was one of the only positives for Mikel Arteta to take from the game.
- That said, there was one more positive for the Spaniard, which is arguably more important than Dowman’s encouraging display.
Arsenal crashed out of the FA Cup at the quarter-final stage on Saturday night, with Mikel Arteta’s team defeated by a spirited Southampton side at St. Mary’s.
The Saints deservedly claimed a 2-1 victory on the south coast, ending the Gunners’ hopes of winning the treble. Goals from Ross Stewart and Shea Charles cancelled out Viktor Gyokeres’ 17th strike of the season, condemning Arteta’s outfit to a second straight defeat.
While the night was overwhelmingly negative for Arsenal, the performance of Max Dowman was certainly a shining light. That said, there was arguably a greater positive for Arteta to take back to North London, which will have more of a tangible impact on the rest of their season.
Max Dowman was excellent for Arsenal against Southampton
While several senior Arsenal players flattered to deceive on the south coast – none more so than Gabriel Jesus – Dowman did not. The 16-year-old started on the right wing for the Gunners and impressed on this flank before offering even more in a central role towards the end of the game.
In the first half, the Arsenal attack was run by the Hale End graduate. He was consistently fed the ball and looked to make things happen with his quick feet and mazy dribbling ability.
His dynamic ball-carrying prompted Saints left-back Ryan Manning to cynically halt him, forcing referee Sam Barrott to show the Irishman a yellow card. Dowman then turned his directness up a notch, sensing he could provoke a second-yellow card challenge, before he was eventually moved inwards when Martin Odegaard came off.
| Max Dowman vs Southampton Statistics | |
| Minutes Played | 90 |
| Shots | 7 |
| Expected Goals | 0.33 |
| Accurate Passes | 30/37 (81%) |
| Touches in Opposition Box | 17 |
| Touches | 67 |
| Key Passes | 1 |
| Successful Dribbles | 3/3 (100%) |
While he was threatening on the right, his best work came in the middle, when his influence on the game was more keenly felt. After an initial lull period in the second half, where Arsenal failed to progress the ball into their forward players, Dowman came alive in the final 25 minutes.
The Gunners’ most prolific route to the Southampton penalty box was feeding their teenage prodigy in the middle of the pitch, so that he could turn his man and drive forward. While the execution with the final ball wasn’t always there, the intent was.
Dowman remarkably finished the game having completed three dribbles, taken seven shots and amassed 17 touches in the Saints’ box. Arteta needs to use him more frequently moving forward.
Martin Odegaard’s return is biggest positive for Arsenal on miserable night
Arsenal have struggled to control possession and territory in recent months, too often surrendering the ball and not penning the opposition back. The diagnosis for this problem is Martin Odegaard’s absence, and this was made clear on the south coast.
In the first half, aside from a weak five-minute period around Southampton’s opening goal, the Gunners suffocated the home team and probed with long sequences of possession around their box. They could easily have taken the lead in this period, and this would’ve led to a very different game.
| Martin Odegaard vs Southampton Statistics | |
| Minutes Played | 61 |
| Shots | 2 |
| Expected Goals | 0.26 |
| Accurate Passes | 46/52 (88%) |
| Passes into Final Third | 8 |
| Touches | 59 |
| Key Passes | 3 |
| Successful Dribbles | 2/2 (100%) |
Odegaard was at the heart of this. The Norwegian technician showcased his quality on the ball by retaining it in forward areas, whilst also helping the Gunners get into the box with intricate combinations.
Arsenal simply cannot do this when they don’t have their captain, and while they weren’t able to maintain this at St. Mary’s as a rusty Odegaard faded, there is now hope that they will be able to moving forward.
As long as the 27-year-old is fit and firing, Arsenal’s attack is always going to look threatening. His return at St. Mary’s was a subdued, but vital, positive on a drab night for the North Londoners. Arteta should be delighted that he has his technical leader back and available.
