Arsenal's Mauling at Southampton Shows They Must Strengthen in Transfer Window

A win at Southampton on Saturday would have taken Arsenal clear at the top of the Premier League. However, instead of delivering the victory to ratify their title credentials, the Gunners suffered a remarkable 4-0 mauling at the hands of Ronald Koeman’s men.

For the watching Arsenal fans, it was both frustrating and frightening: some troubling old habits resurfaced in Arsene Wenger’s side.

Arsenal always seem to be so near, yet so far from landing the Premier League title. This year they have a greater opportunity than most: With the likes of Manchester Untied and Chelsea falling by the wayside, there is a tremendous chance for the Gunners to seize the league for themselves.

However, they seem determined to make it difficult for themselves. Travelling to an out-of-form Southampton side off the back of a morale-boosting win over Manchester City should not have been a particularly onerous task.

Yet watching the match at St. Mary’s Stadium, you could have been forgiven for thinking that Arsenal were struggling in mid-table and the Saints were challenging for the league. The Gunners were diabolical.

Christopher Lee/Getty Images

It’s difficult to explain, as Wenger fielded the same XI who dispatched Manchester City relatively comprehensively earlier this week.

Per Arsenal.com, Wenger stated his belief that the City result may have contributed to Arsenal’s defeat at Southampton. The suggestion is that the Gunners became a touch complacent after vanquishing their title rivals.

He said:

"

We were beaten in the challenges too much, we were not sharp enough to play our usual game and on top of that I think we were unlucky on the decisions for the first three goals and that was too much for us.

[We were missing] the sharpness, that subconscious strength that is in the mind absolutely to win the game. You could see that we relaxed a bit after Man City and didn’t switch on enough here. They were, and that made the difference.

"

“Subconscious strength” isn't all Arsenal were missing. They were also without a number of key players who would have helped add the bite they so badly lacked at Southampton.

The most obvious example is Francis Coquelin. This was probably Arsenal’s worst performance for a year, and it’s no coincidence that in the course of that 12 months the 24-year-old has been a regular fixture in the side.

Wenger has got away with fielding Mathieu Flamini as his replacement, but the elder Frenchman’s shortcomings—much like Arsenal’s back four—were horribly exposed at St. Mary's.

Charlie Crowhurst/Getty Images

Southampton’s Victor Wanyama absolutely dominated the midfield, showcasing the kind of power and discipline that was painfully absent from Arsenal’s performance. Had Coquelin—or a suitable replacement—been on the field, it would surely have been a more even battle.

The January transfer window opens in a matter of days, and Wenger must move fast to strengthen his hand. Holding midfield is not the only area that could do with additions.

When Wenger sought to introduce game-changers from the bench, he turned to the unconvincing trio of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Alex Iwobi and Calum Chambers. The Gunners will need a greater variety of options if they are to emerge as champions.

The Arsenal fans will hope this result, just before the window opens, will make Wenger redouble his efforts to improve the squad in January.

The Gunners missed the opportunity to go top of the Premier League, but that will come around again. When it does, they must make sure they have the necessary depth to capitalise.

 

James McNicholas is Bleacher Report's lead Arsenal correspondent and is following the club from a London base throughout 2015/16. Follow him on Twitter here.