Why did we decide to sit back on a 1-0 lead, no way were they going to hang on to that for 75 minutes? Very poor decision. After that we looked piss poor everywhere, only Romeu and Hojberg coming away from the game with any credit. The lack of competence up front is worrying to say the least, never once did we get beyond their back four and such chances that were made were as much down to luck as design. We seem to be on the same track as Villa last year with a "highly rated" French manager and Ian Black in charge. Bottom 3 does not make good reading but it's where we are and the table never lies, this is all we deserve on performances so far.

My advice to Monsieur Puel, ditch the diamond before the club ditches you it si obvious the players do not like the system and the frustration is clearly growing. It is really time to go back to 4-3-3.

2

We couldn't handle those Conway balls into the box

0

I thought we played well but were robbed of a draw by the referee, and if we hadn't sold our 2 main goal scorers in the summer, we would have won as we created the better chances. But, without a reliable goal scorer, we are going to get a lot of frustrating results like this.

4

Who T F is going to score any goals for us this season? Shane Long couldn't hit a barn door with a cricket bat. So pissed off with Southampton FC and Les Reed and fat Kat in particular. Relegation fight this year without a doubt.

3

It seems that I watched a different game to the previous commenters. I thought that Saints played well against a strong Arsenal team. The defence looked solid and Arsenal rarely looked like scoring. Long missed two good chances but at least was in the right spot. Romeu looked strong and we didn't seem to be playing the diamond for most of the game.
The dreadful refereeing decision at the end cost us what would have been a well deserved point

3

I would have taken a point before KO so a decent performance albeit we were robbed at the death.

The game does prove what we've known all along though, Long is a fantastic team player but you can't rely on him to score important goals when he gets the chances. Let's hope this doesn't turn out to be the story of our season...

4

Agree with all.

Shane Long great work rate, but Arsenal may put in a bid for him as the perfect replacement for Bendtner!

Puel has kept one part of Koeman's system: When trailing by a goal, make sure to take off your creative players and bring in Ward-Prowse to take the corners and then kick them to the other corner.

Yes officials were bad, but we were never going to get the calls against a team higher in the officials pecking order list.

Missed Wanyama and Pelle's muscle against a team that is full of weak and small players.

And off course Mane and Lallana scored to add salt to our wounds. Save it for the tequila, it's going to be a long season! Even if the new bloke we are developing for the Scouse turns out to be any good.

3

It would be difficult to say that anyone in Saints played badly, some (Van Dijk, Forster, Bertrand especially) played very well, but Long does seem to be rushing his shots at the moment. So, we DO have problems in the attack, but our defence is still very strong; but there, ironically, is part of the problem: as was demonstrated in this match (and also in the Sunderland one) referees seem to be determined to interpret the new rules in such a way that they are looking to award penalties for very minor infringements (ask Fonte!). Saints' and Puel's problem is how to maintain a strong very physical defensive style in this new era without conceding penalties: the worst thing would be if our players become so 'worried' about conceding that they will not be able to defend as well as they do, it's a bit of a 'Catch 22' situation that certainly doesn't seem to be doing Saints any favours at the moment!

0

Had the opportunities to win but we just lacked the finishing touch Cherys goal was sublime but impressed with the Balckburn goal as well Not sure about Sylla could have won it f us but some of his passing was poor .Nedm was strong at the back and the return of Hall was welcomed Where were Sandro and Caulker? A developing team but need to win more against lower table teams Great to see Lee Cook get a warm and appreciative welcome at half time

0

Had the opportunities to win but we just lacked the finishing touch Cherys goal was sublime but impressed with the Balckburn goal as well Not sure about Sylla could have won it f us but some of his passing was poor .Nedm was strong at the back and the return of Hall was welcomed Where were Sandro and Caulker? A developing team but need to win more against lower table teams Great to see Lee Cook get a warm and appreciative welcome at half time

0