However Arsenal fans were more concerned about what might befall them at a ground where they have often struggled over the years. Fortunately, Southampton are a) not very good and b) were in a very generous mood - Small Mercy Number Two.
There was as much happening off the pitch as on it, and I'll cover that a bit later on, but a quick recap of the game would probably read:
- Both teams created early chances. Arsenal's were considerably better than Southampton's and Nketiah had already had the ball in the net (disallowed for Saka straying offside before his assist) and Aubameyang had missed a very good opportunity cutting in from the left - I'll come back to that too - before Nketiah took advantage of goalkeeper McCarthy's howler to give Arsenal the lead
- From then on Arsenal sat back and looked to hit Southampton on the break. A dangerous 'tactic' that was almost punished on two or three occasions; and frankly there was no need for it as Arsenal had looked the better side prior to the opening goal. Inviting pressure can lead to problems, and I'm afraid that as Arsenal fans we were all waiting for the really not-very-funny punchline
- And so we had the best part of an hour of attack vs defence - and with Holding in excellent form and with an interesting 3-5-2 formation in use (with Tierney tucked in alongside the centre-backs and Saka pushing forward as wing-back) Arsenal did often look dangerous on the break. Aubameyang again wreaked havoc (when given the opportunity, anyway) from his starting point wide on the left flank. Somewhere in there, Ings created a good chance for Armstrong, Redmond shot into the side-netting and Martinez (solid throughout) saved well from Long
- And finally the punchline, featuring a slightly unfortunate red card for Stephens as he tried to deal with a stray pass from midfield, and the subsequent free kick leading to substitute Willock's first Premier League goal
So a very forgettable game ended in a routine 2-0 win. If there is such a thing as a routine win for Arsenal these days - this was incredibly just their third away victory this season and culminated in a return to the top half of the table. Oh how we celebrated...
And so to matters around and off the pitch:
- I'd give high marks for their performance to Martinez, Holding, Saka and Nketiah. Mustafi and Tierney were both solid enough (let's hope that the latter's late departure was merely down to a minor muscle issue and nothing worse), but I'm still to be convinced that Bellerin will ever get back to his previous form - he has lost a deal of pace, and his positional sense was again lacking
- In midfield, Xhaka returned and gave some much-needed structure to the side. Ceballos, I'm afraid, can go. He has not adapted to the Premier League and again looked slow. What Real Madrid are going to do with him next season I cannot imagine
- And of course Guendouzi was dropped - for 'squad management' reasons was Arteta's line, but it was quite clearly disciplinary following his reported taunting of Brighton players in the previous game. Perhaps that's the final straw at Arsenal for the young man; he's clearly talented, but needs coaching in his in-match thought processes, and more importantly needs to grow up quickly as he does not appear to have learnt from previous misdemeanours
- Further forward Saka was once again influential - amazing for an 18-year-old, and he is Arsenal's brightest teen prospect since Jack Wilshere (he is today's Small Mercy Number Three, but I wish he'd put pen to paper!). Nketiah did a good job, and of course opportunistically scored his 5th goal in his last 7 games - an excellent return - as he was preferred to Lacazette (surely on his way in the summer)
- What Nketiah's inclusion means is that Aubameyang, the side's main source of goals, was once again carted out onto the left hand side. And look, he created some good chances and was unlucky not to score himself, but one does get the feeling that he is wasted (and frustrated) out there. Would Ian Wright have been happy with such treatment? - I don't think so. Should he also leave then that would make Arteta's rebuilding job (with the need to replace a 30-goal a season man) all the tougher
- And finally, whither Arsenal's top wage-earner, Mesut Ozil? The answer is below. I'm not sure that he moved from his seat for the entire game, and it is clear there once more that that are issues between him and his Coach. Such a wasted talent - I would love to see Ozil at 10, pulling the strings for Aubameyang at number 9!
Arsenal now move on to their FA Cup quarter final tie at Bramall Lane on Sunday. Sheffield United suddenly look strangely vulnerable compared to how they looked prior to the enforced break, but whether Arsenal can take advantage is another matter. Gone - at least for the moment - are the days of expectation. Instead it's merely hope, but a win is a win - that's the most important Small Mercy.
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