Thierry Henry was back at the Emirates on Friday night. Back alongside Patrick Vieira. Back in north London to see if Mikel Arteta’s side would heed his advice.
The Frenchman had warned before the visit of Southampton that unchecked passion could prove Arsenal’s undoing in this title tussle with Manchester City.
‘They need to stay calm… you can win a cup with emotions but not a 38-game season,’ Henry said. ‘You can’t be too emotional and we’ve seen recently Arsenal have been too emotional.
‘There is a difference between passion and emotion.’
How easily those lines become blurred.There can be no doubt that the energy and atmosphere that Arteta has worked so hard to foster at the Emirates has been a driving force in his side’s title charge.
Arsenal had been warned against allowing too much emotion to come into play in their pursuit of a first league title since 2004
Manager Mikel Arteta watched on in horror as his side twice went behind by two goals
The atmosphere at the Emirates this season has been electrifying at times – though the games are becoming increasingly frenzied
It was no coincidence that, as they searched for a route back into this game, several Arsenal players tried to whip up the crowd.
Unfortunately, though, while those supporters endured another rollercoaster 90 minutes, it was hard not to wonder if Henry was on to something.
‘Just an opinion,’ was how Arteta responded to Henry’s comment before this game. But history tells us that, more often than not, the biggest trophies are won by cool heads. And recently, Arsenal minds appear scrambled.
Hence the creeping tide of individual errors. Hence the yo-yo, frenzied atmospheres which have followed the league leaders in recent weeks.
Hence, perhaps, why Arsenal had only a single shot between the 45th and 77th minute on Friday night. They had lost some of the control and composure that has fuelled this title charge.
It was back in January, following a home draw against Newcastle, that Arteta was accused of allowing his own manic touchline antics to infect his players’ minds.
Now he must find a way of cooling their heads. And fast.
How to explain these two statistics? Only two goalkeepers have kept more clean sheets than Aaron Ramsdale (12) in the Premier League this season.
Only two teams have conceded more goals at home this season than Arsenal (21). That’s Leeds and Southampton, by the way. They have conceded 30 each, 11 of which have come in Leeds’ last two matches.Arsenal’s exceptional away form this season has been a crucial reason behind their title push.Their home record makes for pretty reading, too: played 16, won 12, lost one.
Bettered only by Manchester City. Bettered only by one point, too.And yet, comfortable days at the Emirates have not come as easily as perhaps they should.
Arsenal conceded within the first minute as an Aaron Ramsdale mistake allowed Southampton in
Arteta’s side have now dropped points in their last three matches – with a trip to Manchester City up next
Arsenal have kept only two clean sheets at home since October. Their last five matches at the Emirates, meanwhile, have come against relegation-threatened sides: Southampton, Crystal Palace, Everton, Leeds and Bournemouth. None has passed without a wobble or an uncomfortable spell. To be expected at this stage of the season, perhaps. But against both Bournemouth and Southampton, Arsenal have needed last-minute heroics.
‘You cannot concede the goals the way we did (and) win games in the Premier League unless we make a miracle,’ Arteta said after this.
What do they say about playing with fire and the inevitable outcome?
James Ward-Prowse is expected to leave Southampton this summer, with Newcastle and Aston Villa said to be among those eyeing a possible move for the midfielder.
His contribution at Arsenal was only more proof – not that it was needed – of how they would miss him on the South Coast.
James Ward-Prowse has been an almighty servant to Southampton and once again showed his quality on Friday night
It was Ward-Prowse’s fantastic delivery that created Southampton’s third at Arsenal, a header from Duje Caleta-Car that looked set to secure three vital points in the race to avoid relegation.
Then, right at the death, as Arsenal pushed for a winner and Reiss Nelson let fly, who was there with an outstretched stud to deflect the ball just wide?
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