Now we have to show what we’re made of

Arteta baffled by poor Arsenal defending

Arsenal have the perfect defensive file within the Premier League however they seemed uneasy all evening, a lot to Arteta’s disappointment.

“The consequence and particularly the way in which we conceded the 2 objectives…” he mentioned. “We had a lot dominance in and across the field. We conceded the primary objective in a really uncommon means for us, the second from direct play as effectively. We had two huge probabilities and wanted to capitalise on that. When you make defending errors we made as we speak it’s very troublesome to be within the semi-final.”

It was a moist and windy evening with Storm David making situations troublesome however Arteta didn’t wish to search for excuses.

“You must adapt to the wind, the accidents,” he added. “You must adapt to troublesome conditions within the season. Now we have now to indicate what we’re made from.”

Subsequent up for Arsenal is the primary leg of their Champions League quarter-final tie towards Sporting CP and midfielder Christian Norgaard says the gamers know they should carry out higher than they did tonight.

He mentioned: “It was at instances slightly bit too chaotic. They had been very sharp in transitions which we didn’t handle very effectively. We had the momentum within the second half particularly once we equalised and conceded a really silly objective from a objective kick which we can not enable or settle for. Very irritating for us, however already an enormous recreation on Tuesday and time for us to indicate what we’re made from.

“There have been instances once we felt in management however there have been moments after they actually had us. Total not ok. However there have been instances once we might have loved the momentum a bit extra. These are the moments once we ought to have been sharper.”

Eckert happy with his gamers as tremendous Saints march on

It was a vastly irritating evening for the Gunners however one to savour for Southampton, who prolonged their unbeaten run in all competitions to fifteen video games.

“We put in a very good shift as we speak,” boss Tonda Eckert advised BBC Sport. “It was a problem, we knew it was going to be a troublesome recreation. The second half all the time has the prospect to shift and we reacted fairly effectively.

“You prefer to have spells on the ball, we knew there can be conditions the place we have to transfer greater than we often do and compliments to the boys.”

Southampton stay within the hunt for a play-off spot within the Championship with their subsequent recreation coming at fellow top-six hopefuls Wrexham on Tuesday evening.

Requested if this win would give his aspect added perception within the run-in, Eckert mentioned: “Perception is all the time there, it’s not been an issue. The truth is that the sport is shut. It’s going to be good to have fun as we speak however we open up Wrexham and Championship soccer tomorrow.”