Lukas Podolski and Other Senior Players Let Arsenal Down Against Southampton

Arsenal are out of the League Cup. In one respect, Arsene Wenger might be tempted to greet the news with relief: His ever-depleting defence will be spared another fixture in this busy period of the season. 

However, there are only four trophies up for grabs in any one season. In Arsenal’s case, that number is now down to three. The League Cup might not be a priority, but it’s still a recognised prize.

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With a north London derby just days away, Wenger had little choice but to rotate his starting XI. His team reflected the varying degrees of depth throughout his squad. Up front, he was able to make sweeping changes yet still name an attacking force packed with international credentials.

At the back, however, things were rather different. Unable to risk his first-choice defence, Wenger named a back four containing three 19-year-olds and a midfielder. Ideally, he probably would have liked to afford Calum Chambers a rest, but sheer lack of numbers made that impossible.

Nevertheless, the young quartet acquitted themselves well. Chambers was composed as ever, and alongside him, Isaac Hayden showcased power and poise. Hector Bellerin has electrifying speed to recover from the mistakes inexperience makes inevitable, and Francis Coquelin performed admirably in an unfamiliar role.

The defensive deputies did themselves proud and allayed some of the understandable fears about the lack of depth at the back.

When Wenger comes to assess how Arsenal came to crash out of the cup, his ire will surely be focused on the more senior players on the team. 

Tomas Rosicky was named as captain but led the team only in major errors. His most prominent mistake was to hang out a careless leg and gift Southampton a penalty.

However, his performance was littered with poor passes and inexplicable decisions as well. It was surprising from a player who is usually a reliable lieutenant for Wenger. Perhaps we are witnessing the evergreen Czech midfielder’s long-delayed decline.

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Alongside Rosicky in midfield, Jack Wilshere was also culpable. Usually first to throw himself into a challenge, he was unusually slow to close down Nathaniel Clyne before the Southampton full-back struck a spectacular winner.

However, neither Rosicky nor Wilshere was the greatest offender on this disappointing night for Arsenal. Lukas Podolski put in a display so poor that it may have sealed his January exit from the club.

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Podolski has always looked a bit like a square peg in a round hole at Arsenal. This season, the fit looks more uncomfortable than ever.

With Wenger seemingly set on reconstructing his attack around the pace, movement and energy of Alexis Sanchez and Danny Welbeck, Podolski’s plodding performances look entirely out of place.

Against Southampton, Podolski was afforded spells on both wings and through the middle. He failed to have an impact in any of the three roles. 

Even his customary clinical finishing deserted him. Late in the first half, the German international was played in on goal but failed to display his usual conviction inside the penalty box.

With Arsenal out of the cup, Podolski may find further opportunities in the first team difficult to come by.

James McNicholas is Bleacher Report's lead Arsenal correspondent and will be following the club from a London base throughout the 2014/15 season. Follow him on Twitter here.