Do you have any complaints there?
No complaints. This is football. We were really good in the first half and totally controlled the game. We created loads of big chances that we didn’t put away. In the Premier League, unfortunately, if you don’t do that when you are top of the game, you can have some difficulties. In the second half, we put ourselves in problems with the amount of giveaways that we had, especially with ball possession, and that didn’t allow us to control the game the way we wanted.
Their direct play and long throws, and set pieces disrupted the game a lot. We tried to react, and I still think in the second half, the two biggest chances were ours, but we didn’t put them away.
What do you make of the penalty shouts?
I don’t know. I don’t want to comment on that. I want to see the images before I do that.
READ MORE: Arsenal player ratings vs Southampton as Granit Xhaka superb but Gabriel Jesus struggles
What do you put the team starting well and then fading away down to?
I think we stopped doing all the simple things right. The distances on the ball positions were too far, we gave too many simple balls away in very dangerous areas without much pressure, and that didn’t allow us much continuity like we had in the first half. Then you are more tired because the game becomes more open and there are more transitions, and you are fatigued. I think again we finished the game on top of them and we tried to go for the second goal, but we didn’t find a way to do it.
Is there any one thing causing the drop off in the second half?
It was a consequence of one thing after the other, and we didn’t stop it quick enough.
Is it a concern that Gabriel Jesus hasn’t scored for five games now?
I’m sure today he will be disappointed because he had the chances to put them away. Knowing Gabi, he’s disappointed when he scores two goals and could have scored three or four, so he can do that. But he has the chances, and he’s always there. He gives so much to the team, and it’s a shame he couldn’t put them away today.
Is there a feeling that squad depth isn’t quite there when it comes to Thursday, Sunday?
We have the same that we had a month ago, two days ago and the same as what we’re going to have next week. I don’t like to have any excuses. In the second half, we could have played much better, and we could have won much more comfortably than we did, and it’s completely down to us. I think the team looked really fresh at the start. I put it more down to the way we played. We should have played better in the second half.
Eight players have started every Premier League game. Is there a sense you might need to freshen it up in the coming games?
That means they haven’t played other games. I think at the start, the team looked really fresh. (As for) the second half and last few minutes, it’s more the way we played - I put it there. We should have played better in the second half.
Just two wins out of Arsenal’s last seven trips to St. Mary’s. What makes it so difficult to come here?
It’s very difficult to win in the Premier League at home and away.
READ NEXT:
Why Mikel Arteta shouted at Gabriel Martinelli as Arsenal draw with Southampton - Moments missed
Arsenal given easy Ilkay Gundogan transfer decision as Man City star edges closer to summer exit
The inside story of Arsenal transfer bid to sign Cristiano Ronaldo amid Sir Alex Ferguson hijack
Gabriel Martinelli starts, Kieran Tierney dropped - Arsenal predicted XI vs Southampton
Arsenal news and transfers LIVE: All the latest news, rumours and gossip from the Emirates Stadium
