Arteta has really changed the thinking of the Gunners this season after going head to head against PSG with a win (2-0) they didn't use the champions league game as an excuse of not performing well in today's game against Southampton. A team that caused Arsenal the chance of winning the league title 2 seasons ago, at least they started it by playing out a draw which started Arsenal's down fall.
But today's game was a little bit off color for Arsenal in the first half, where they played like a team that doesn't want all 3pt. In the second half Arsenal fired up and started pressing till they dominated the midfield of the visitors and made the defense to be open to penetrate.
Between Arsenal and City the team that's dropping their style of play at this very stage of the season, I'll say City are slowly dropping that force of dominating every single game in the EPL, they got lucky if not the game would have ended in a draw. I think things are some how not going well for City in that midfield, they need a replacement as soon as possible.
Great result in the end. But there are some concerns, especially in the first half. I might sound harsh, but Arsenal need to be better at home. We need to really push to take advantage of our control when we have it; in the first half, we looked very poor. We must rotate players over the season. This to build chemistry between starters and the bench.
I was very impressed with that second half. The Saka-Havertz combo was phenomenal. They helped us more decisive on the ball in the second half. They could be doing that in every game.
We haven't fully learned yet from last season. We struggle to have a full 90 minutes of control in home games. We looked so badly in the first half, but played differently in the second half. Still not consistent.
Indeed the Gunners later turned the game around for the better but they really struggled to do so and to think it was in their home turf. Assuming it wasn't Southampton they played against, then the story would have been a different one. If the Emirates can be made strong like the way the Etihad or Anfield is, I don't think any opponent would go there and hope to get three points without really working hard for it.