The first title of the season Arsenal won’t win will be the League Cup, losing at home 2-1 to Southampton despite taking the lead through Alexis Sanchez, as Dusan Tadic and Nathaniel Clyne turned things around.
The big news for Arsenal before the match was the return of Abou Diaby, who didn’t play too well but anything that doesn’t end with an injury for him is something of good news, lasting 67 minutes before being taken off for Santi Cazorla.
Arsenal started Tomas Rosicky, Jack Wilshere, Diaby, Joel Campbell and Lukas Podolski up front. The Chilean star opened the scoring with another brilliant free kick, becoming something of a trademark for him at his new club, curling the ball to the top corner in the 13th minute.
However, that goal only seemed to put Arsenal into something of a slumber. Their game became slower, more predictable and they even struggled hanging on to possession.
A foolish foul by Tomas Rosicky, easily the worst player on the pitch during the full 90 minutes, clumsily fouled Sadio Mane, conceding the penalty. Dusan Tadic equalized from the penalty spot.
Not a lot of chances on both ends, but just before half time Nathaniel Clyne, who has had a brilliant start to the season, scored a rocket of a shot from long range, tricking David Ospina, probably taking a turn off one of the defenders.
In the second half Arsenal made changes, which included introducing Oxlade-Chamberlain and Cazorla to the pitch, but they failed to create significant chances, while Fraser Forster had a solid day at goal, doing well against the not-so-impressive pressure.
Arsenal can now get back to the league with one less competition to worry about, but it should be a loss worth considering and worrying about. Southampton, despite getting picked apart by bigger clubs during the summer, seem to have done a fine job of replacing the pieces.
