Before the game I said rotation was on the cards and I was fine with it. You can't expect the same group of players to feature twice a week and produce performances of the same level.
I understood that the quality of our game would suffer as a result of heavy rotation and I accepted it. Senior players needed a rest, while Arsene has always preferred to blood youngsters in this competition and give them a chance to prove themselves.
Capital One Cup is not the most interesting competition around and so I wasn't particularly saddened by the fact we crashed out of it. It was more about how our more experienced players performed and the (hypothetical) effect this loss can cause to the overall confidence of the side. However, let's start at the beginning.
The squad
In defense, I guessed two players right: Bellerin and Hayden. The other two were Chambers (Arsene decided to risk the young Englishman, possibly because he's fresher) and Coquelin, who started at left-back.
However, this make-shift defense, while looking a little shaky, still wasn't at fault for either goal. A couple of dodgy moments aside, these youngsters looked pretty decent.
In midfield we had Diaby and Rosicky (predictably) and Jack Wilshere. I still think it's not the best idea to play these two together as both like to occupy the same spaces, but they didn't seem to clash as much as I expected them to.
The front three consisted of Podolski and Campbell on the flanks and Sanchez (surprise) as a lone striker.
This decision was really unconventional, I thought Arsene would try and preserve the Chilean's energy for other, more important fixtures, but maybe Alexis will do just fine even with an extra match. He seems bursting with energy every time when making an appearance, so he may have enough in the tank to play twice a week regularly.
The first half
I haven't seen the first ten minutes or so because I couldn't find a decent steam (the game was broadcasted on no usual channels) and the first interesting bit of action I saw was Sanchez's goal. It was truly magnificent.
Wilshere (I think) was fouled some 25 yards out, Alexis stepped up and curled a gorgeous effort over the wall. No chance for the goalie whatsoever.
Our lead didn't last long, as Rosicky's stupid foul inside the area gifted the Saints a penalty and Tadic slotted the ball home from the spot.
Southampton looked the better side for the remainder of the first period, so it came as little surprise when they went ahead in the 40th minute.
A clearance from their corner fell to Clyne, who was roughly 35 yards out and the bloke fired an unstoppable effort under the bar.
I'm in two minds about the goal. On the one hand, the effort was really good: a powerful, swerving hit just under the bar. On the other, the it went in right down the middle and I'm not sure Ospina's view was obstructed.
We tried to get back to level terms before the break, but, apart from a well-saved shot from Podolski did little.
The Saints probably could have been further in front, but for Pelle to put his effort wide and Mane to get overpowered by Bellerin at the last possible moment.
The second half
Arsenal dominated it in terms of possession, but not much else. Alexis swapped places with Poldi in an attempt to bring something out of the German, but to no avail. I still cannot get the manager's decision to not substitute Podolski later in the game, when it was clear Lukas was ineffective.
Instead, Campbell (who didn't have a bad outing, in my view) and Diaby gave way to Oxlade and Santi respectively. Arsene tried desperately to clinch that equaliser by subbing Bellerin for Akpom, but this change came too late.
We nonetheless had a chance to score that goal in the dying seconds of the game, but Sanchez poked his shot straight at the keeper. 2-1 it ended and it probably could have been worse, considering how dangerous the Saints looked on the counters.
The aftermath
"It’s disappointing because we had a good start and we made two unnecessary errors on the two goals - they were big ones. We lacked a bit of experience at the back. I agree with you but overall they did well. We gave a lot and it’s frustrating as we were not able to score in the second half. When you look at the amount of possession we had you have to give credit to Southampton. They played well and were very organised. They abused the fouls in the middle of the park but they are a good side and they played well tonight. Overall it’s frustrating because we gave a lot."
AW's take on the performance. I agree with him. We looked combative and fragile at the same time. Fidgety at the back, willing to go forward up front. Had we made better decisions in the final third, I'm not so sure we would have gone down. But it is what it is.
Personally, the sheer fact of us losing is a bit of a blow. I hate when Arsenal lose, even if they do so in a friendly. But the scale is different nonetheless. It's much less painful to suffer a narrow defeat from a very good Southampton side, whilst fielding a squad full of youngsters and players who would under normal circumstances start the game on the bench, than producing an atrocious performance against Borussia.
It's a shame we lost after such a brilliant early goal, but there are positives to be gleaned still. We've seen what our youngsters are capable of and the signs of Bellerin, Hayden were good. Just as these of more seasoned pros like Chambers, Coquelin and Diaby. We rested a lot of first-team players before a crucial North London Derby. And we learned that any BPL team can beat us on our turf if we don't produce.
Also, we'll have at least the next CoC midweek free, while City, Chelsea, Liverpool and even Southampton will have to play. And this may just mean dropping points in the BPL, maybe even against us.
Bottom line is, it's just the CoC. We haven't gone out of or way and strengthened the team with the likes of Sanchez and Welbeck to win the cup, have we?
That's it for now. Back tomorrow/Saturday with a preview of the derby.
Until then, have a good day
Follow me on Twitter (@AlexBaguzin)
Follow me on Twitter (@AlexBaguzin)