Why Arsenal V Southampton Is The Most Important Game Of The Gunners Season. A Preview

'Their own worst enemy' is the best way to describe Arsenal in recent weeks as in two games they have left with two draws despite leading 2-0 early in each match and deservedly so before throwing it away due to numerous factors. Factors that could result in a mental collapse similar to last season which makes the Friday Night's kick-off the most important game of the season for Mikel Arteta's men as they hope to regain their footing after a shaky couple of weeks.

As stated Arsenal's problems recently have been varied due to numerous factors such as the missing of important personnel such as William Saliba in both games and Oleksandr Zinchenko at West Ham, individual mistakes from key players such as Thomas Partey or trusted deputies in Rob Holding have played a part as has poor tactical choices from manager Mikel Arteta. It is hard to blame anybody but Arsenal themselves for the nervy feeling that they could be letting something they shouldn't slip which makes remedying this situation ASAP and the manner of which they do so paramount for the gunners considering the fixture list.

While the loss of William Saliba is massive and completely changes the way Arsenal play due to the loss of a centre-back who can confidently and competently play out from the back Arsenal's problem has not necessarily been failing to get in position to score. The Gunners have taken the lead in both games they've dropped points in doubling the lead in each game before the half-hour mark. The main problem in my opinion has been the drop off in Arsenal's overall game when leading the lack of urgency to go for the kill has ended up biting Arsenal in the behind.

At Anfield Arsenal exploited Liverpool's weaknesses early to go two up, getting it down the wings against players who could not cope with our wingers allowing them to create and then score. But after going two up it was as if Arsenal didn't see the need to do more to make sure Liverpool where down and out, players who were supposed to make the team tick choose easy passes instead of exploiting an already leaky defence to be safe and a poor goal conceded to end the half contributed even further to Arsenal's decision to just hold on which was disappointing as not only was the three points lost in the end but it was lost in a fashion which you cant help but feel was self inflicted.

Instead of playing their usual game and building from the back Arsenal shrunk in the 2nd half constantly inviting pressure which eventually lead to a corner which then lead to a penalty at though at the time it was thankfully missed this ultimately meant little as what seemed liked the inevitable happened as Firmino equalised. And while the football media spun the narrative of Xhaxa's incident with Alexander Arnold as the big and main factor in the result it was clear to see Arsenal and Arteta were the reason for their own downfall. Simply soaking up pressure while 2-1 up and not even attempting to exploit what worked in your favour in the first half at Anfield off all places was baffling.

The midfield failing to control and do anything meaningful with the ball when in possession was a factor as was subbing off Jesus who was winning balls and was a significant threat on the counter as well as someone who could help sustain play for Trossard instead of Saka or Odegaard while throwing on a clearly inexperienced centre back for the Norwegian before Tierney which only served to give Liverpool one more body to exploit was baffling. Many tried to spin it as a point gained due to Arsenal's terrible record at Anfield even Arsenal's social media to an extent but make no mistake that was two points dropped.

The disappointment at Anfield made the match at the London Stadium a must-win for Arsenal so for the team to fail to do that similarly was worrying. Unlike the Liverpool game Arsenal's failure here was a result of arrogance instead of fear. Racing into a 2-0 lead the North London side was lax in finishing a clearly wounded West Ham, key players such as Jesus for example, a striker was essentially playing DM for no apparent reason and eventually, a foolish flick from Partey compromised the defence which led to a 2nd penalty conceded in two games. Unlike Salah Benrahma dispatched from 12 yards and made it 2-1 before the break.

But unlike Anfield, Arsenal had a genuine chance to increase their lead in the second half and go 3-1 up but a missed Saka penalty denied them this chance as he shot wide and if that didn't instil panic into the Arsenal fans Jared Bowen scoring a goal which Aaron Ramsdale should really have saved did. Mikel Arteta who has improved this season showed his inexperience as he again got his subs wrong Jesus was hooked despite being a threat and Saka who had a poor game played the full match despite never being involved essentially cementing that Arsenal would be walking away with 1 point instead of 3.

These results happening back to back in a similar fashion rightly brings forth the question of whether another late-season collapse is due for Arteta's Arsenal and that question could only really be answered in the next two games. Many see Man City away as the six-point game which would decide who would be champions but before that Arsenal need to face Southampton. And although the saints sit rock bottom Arsenal cannot afford to dally as they have previously as the manner of how they achieve this win could be crucial for the player's confidence and belief for the trip to the Etihad.

While most would say a sound victory at home at Southampton's expense should be standard for the league leaders to which I agree, in Arsenal's case confidence is probably lower than usual and the result may matter more than the manner of it. But in my opinion a routine win almost certainly won't be enough to instil faith that they can win away at the title holders home not when they aren't necessarily flowing. Mikel Arteta should hope for his men to remember the football which has achieved their league position and for a solid defensive showing as they are without a clean sheet since the 12th of March. An emphatic assured win against a scrappy side fighting to maintain premier league status would surely give this Arsenal team much-needed confidence that they can still play their game effectively against all manner of opponent.