It was business as usual when Saints returned to St Mary's after a 3 month break, however that was not a good thing as they reverted back to the error strewn ways that need to be sorted out in the close season.

This was almost the complete opposite of the Norwich game but this time where we started brightly but then started to gift the opposition chances.

I feel like I have written this match report a hundred times over the past three years and that is probably because I have, the same issues keep occurring time and time again, slack defending, individual errors, lapses in concentration, all combine to ruin games where we could have and should have got something out of.

Once they settled after a couple of early wobbles, Arsenal had a game plan and it doesn't take a tactical genius to work out where our weaknesses lie, but the one that cost us dearly in the first part of the season was still very obvious in this game, all a team has to do is sit back and then break quickly, we just cannot defend against this, we seem to charge forward like schoolboys and not bother keeping shape at the back, once we got caught out when the Arsenal keeper just drop kicked the ball forward and found his man with Jack Stephens completely out of position and left for dead.

Arsenal's first goal though had only one culprit, Alex McCarthy was under no pressure whatsoever when the ball was passed back to him, he had several options including a short pass to Bertrand or just hoofing it forward or into the stands, his weak attempted pass forward was atrocious and left Nketiah with a simple run after the ball and tap into the empty net.

A change at half time with Walker Peters coming on for Valery and Long for Obafemi perked Saints up and Long saw a shot brilliantly saved, but once again just as we should have been revving up for the final onslaught in search of an equaliser we shot ourself in the foot again.

Hojbjerg's pass back was lax but Stephens should have done better instead of letting it run and subsequently bringing down Aubameyang and earning a red card.

The resultant free kick was blocked by the wall but fired straight back in straight at McCarthy who just parried it leaving Willock with a simple finish from the rebound.

All in all as I keep saying going forward we are a good side, but we keep making the same mistakes game after game and I'm sorry to say it is the same issues.

Goalkeeper - An error on both goals for McCarthy, a Premier League keeper should really have dealt with both goals, the second saw him just block it, yes the shot was hard, but he could have held it or at least should have got the ball out of the danger area, not just parried it two yards forward.

I don't know if Gunn is the answer or not, but McCarthy isn't, in the penultimate game before the break at West Ham McCarthy failed to catch a simple cross that cost us a goal, he has never been a true number 1 choice at this level in his career and that has shown.

Right Back - Valery seems to be half the player he was a year ago, something has gone wrong there, Walker-Peters looked competent and could keep the ball and pass it, but he seemed reluctant to take on players and get in crosses, he will probably get a run in the side now and has a chance to get his confidence and show us if he can beat his man, he could be an option to buy, but I would not rate him at more than £5 million given his displays so far and his lack of experience.

Central Defence- This has now been an issue for 3 1/2 years and something needs to change, Jan Bednarek is a good blocking player, against Arsenal he blocked a lot of crosses and shots, he could be a good player, but he needs a decent central defender next to him.

That man is not Jack Stephens, I know some will say I have something against him, but why can I keep criticising him ? simple answer because we keep on having games like this where the opposition get gifted chance after chance through slack marking, poor positional play, poor oranisation and a failure to do the basics.

Stephens has some redeeming points, he has an ability to carry the ball forward and hit a forward ball, but we don't pay him to do that, we pay him to defend and he is not consistent enough or good enough as was shown several times when he was caught out of position.

Perhaps he is would be better deployed as a holding midfield player, it pains me to have to be so scathing, he is a loyal club servant, but that is not enough, I have to base it purely on performance , my simple litmus test is this, would he get a game in central defence in any other Premier League side ? I think we all know the answer and tells us what should be done.

Attack - Danny Ings is beyond reproach and we have to accept that Shane Long is in the twilight of his career, he can still do a job, but it is going to be more as an impact player going forward.

Michael Obafemi has pace, but is this enough, he seems to have little idea where to run, how to put himself into a position to get a chance on goal or how to make runs off the ball to create space and chances for others.

He is a reactive players, occasionally he finds himself with the ball at his feet and e can take on players and have a shot, but too often you look at him standing around not knowing what to do, at one stage Danny Ings clearly berated him for offering no support when he had a run at the Arsenal defence, perhaps he can find the nous needed to play at this level or perhaps he will be one of those players that we see from time to time who mostly do nothing of real note but get the occasional spectacular goal that falsely eleveates their reputation at least for a while.

Che Adams- I think Adams has it in him to play at this level, he has the "nous" what he doesn't have is a goal to his name, performance wise Adams has contributed when he hasn't scored, when he played up front at Cheslea with Obafemi, Adams had a great game, but Obafemi took the plaudits for a superbly taken goal, before that shot be had barely touched the ball.

I think Adams has to be given a run in the side between now and the end of the season and be judged on contribution not goal scoring..

I'm sorry to have to be writing this, as I say it is something that you will have read on this site time and time again and there is one reason for that and that is the same things keep happening on the pitch, look back at the five games before the break, we won 1 and lost 4, those lost games were thrown away through error, granted Liverpool were a different class, but Burnely we gave them a goal after 2 minutes, West Ham was error strewn including McCarthy's one on the stroke of half time to gift them the lead, Newcastle home saw Yan Valery's error late on after a decent fighting spirit down to 10 men.

The same things happen week after week usually with the same culprits, they are never going to mend their ways now, changes have to be made.

I'm sure some will disagree, but for me the proof of the pudding is in the eating and yet again the evidence is there for all to see.

It is so frustrating to have to write this it must be worse for Ralph Hasenhuttl to see good work continually ruined.

Photo: Action Images

SanMarco added 23:21 - Jun 26 That was a superb pass through to the centre-forward by PEH and it caught the CB out. Shame it was their CF and our CB. I agree that Stephens is not great but a bit unfair to blame him for that one. I think PEH, Valery and Obafemi (+ obviously the dire keeper) are the talking points here. PEH needs dropping and the other two are not up to it at the moment. Valery seems to get caught upfield even when we haven't gone upfield! I agree with all those appealing for Che to be given a decent run, there will never be a better time. As for our home form - at least the crowd can't be blamed for this one. We seem incapable of moving forward quickly and creating (enough) chances. We were on top second half but we only really created that one chance which Long took well leading to a good save. We are not going down so I think Ralph needs to have a proper look at some alternatives. Every time PEH plays his value goes down anyway so win-win there surely. Watford will be a tough one but at least we are away from home...

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aceofthebase added 01:09 - Jun 27 Hojbjerg to blame for both goals. the first he was demanding McC return the ball to him and foolishly McC attempted to comply. The second goal was obviously a terrible back pass by Hojbjerg that left Stephens in a dire position. A valiant effort but the only reward was a red card and a subsequent goal The whole team seem to want to play back towards our own goal, rarely trying to go forward. Redmond should be more attack minded . Peters came on , looked good but like Valery failed to attack and take on the opposition. Obafemi fast and furious but lacks a football brain, but surely Adams has had his chance and just doesn't seem like scoring. If he does how long would we have to wait for a second goal?

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misterg added 09:45 - Jun 27 I respect your report on the Arsenal game Nick and as always you make some good points. However this constant criticism of Jack Stephens is becoming really tiresome and undermines the undoubted knowledge you have of the game and Saints. To suggest that Jack was culpable for the second goal is incredible when he had been put in an impossible position by that crazy back pass from PEH. The easy thing was to just let Aubameang score but he did what a good pro would do and it cost him a Red Card ! and a shed load of criticism from you. Anyway we will be able to see how well our defence performs in the next 3 games now without your arch villain and if your judgement is correct we will do so well that Jack will not be required again this season.

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Billeewithers added 15:28 - Jun 27 Stop apologising for constructively criticising defensive frailties. My opinion is that you have been precise and accurate in your assessments of Stephens amongst others. He is a good club man but despite his spirit and improvement is plainly not mentally robust enough at this level.
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