Great game, loved almost every minute of it.
As happened last year, we steam rollered Arsenal with our immense work rate and fast closing down, but we somehow didn't manage to come away with a win. Last season a lucky own goal was the cause, this season it was us failing to continue the closing down and pressing just after the break allowing Arsenal the room to breath they desperately needed. For all those doubting Lallana's captaincy credentials, you should have seen him shouting at the rest of the side after the Arsenal goals to push up and press them, which we thankfully did.
Boric - could he have done better with the second? I've not seen a replay, so just asking. It seemed to take an age to slice into the corner. He didn't have a great deal to do, which shows how well we played. Calm as always, but not too calm. Good to see him come off his line for corners, especially as we lacked a little height. I notice we didn't have men on the posts. Is that new?
Chambers - I thought he was absolutely outstanding once again. He gets so tight to opponents, biting at their heals. He's good in the air, quick enough and extremely competent on the ball. He is great going forward, with a brilliant drop of the shoulder. I find it amazing how poor many of the fullbacks are in the top four sides (Sagna for example is woeful) and yet we have three absolutely top draw ones of our own.
Fonte - decent solid game.
Yoshida - some very good, such as showing pace and nipping in to cut out passes and even being physical on one or two occasions, but some very poor stuff too, such as some weak as **** headers straight back into the danger area (he's Chris Perry Mark II) and a host of poor clearances, some off the studs no less. Lots of effort and I'll cut him some slack as yet again he is thrown in without a run of games, but overall our worst player on the night be a considerable distance
Shaw - just wanted to see the guy take Sagna on more, but he can't go to the byeline all night despite my encouragement for him to do so. I'd like to see him shoot more often too. Just drive and hit it three or four times a game.
Cork - my man of the match. he was everywhere and I mean everywhere. He was relentless. The only thing he doesn't have is that little touch of guile around the box, but he makes up for it elsewhere - shown perfectly in the first half when bounding forward to near the Arsenal box and then having his through ball cut out, Arsenal breaking before he steals the ball on the edge of our box. There were about 12 blades of grass he didn't cover. I've said it a few times on here. I simply do not understand why MP ignored him earlier in the season. I can understand why VW started, but to not have Cork coming on off the bench when making a centre midfield sub amazed me.
Morgan - I thought he was a little quite in the first half, perhaps his good work was towards the other side of the pitch, but he had a great second half once we got going.
Lallana - faded a little towards the end, but he works so hard its not surprising. Is there a Saints player more enjoyable to watch. If we are going to go down in Brazil lets go down playing him in the hole where he belongs.
Davis - I really enjoy watching him too. His touch is immaculate. He lacks that yard of pace and real dribbling ability, but he has great awareness. The pass to put Shaw in in the second half was top notch. Need a few more goals out of him Morgan and Cork though.
JRod - I agree with many that he can't play up the middle on his own. Perhaps as a pair, but not on his own. With every game he seems to grow in confidence and he started like a house on fire. Pity he faded out at the end when we had them on the rack.
Gallagher - Excellent debut. Showed great mobility and played on the shoulder of the last defender, which gave the Arsenal centre back real problems. I don't think those two have improved at all, they have just had more protection from Flamini. Stretching teams the other way is not something we have done a great deal with Lambert and made us a more threatening side. I was expecting far less. He looked comfortable at that level. In the end though he will need to score goals to be seen as effective. His work rate and closing down helped us regain possession a lot. I doubt Arsenal have kicked the ball long from the keeper as much all season. I wonder if him coming into the side will create that Man Utd 1992 vibe and the players all stick around. Not sure it will, but you never know.
