[](https://yankeegooner.net/back-to-back-cup-defeats-is-not-what-we-expected/)
First the Carabao Cup final, and now a FA Cup quarterfinal. Back-to-back defeats in England’s two domestic cup competitions. This is not what we expected.
The excuse: Mikel Arteta started only two of his top eleven on Saturday. Why? Well injuries are a big reason. We have players on the injured list, or just back from injuries.
The positives: It was great to see Martin Odegaard back on the pitch. I thought he played very well. And, in my opinion, Max Dowman was Arsenal’s best player on the pitch. The 16-year-old fought until the very end and covered a lot of ground on the St. Mary’s Stadium turf. This kid is so fun to watch. His mindset is to get the ball and attack the defense, a true reminder of how Jack Wilshire played the game.
The negatives: Southampton destroyed the Arsenal defense too many times on the counter-attack. Plus the Saints just seemed more energized and more aggressive. This is a club unbeaten in 15 consecutive matches. Also, let’s not forget Gabriel Magalhaes came off the pitch with a knee problem. Hopefully, it was only precautionary.
The next steps: With Sporting Lisbon on the road this coming Tuesday, Arteta has little time to dwell on Saturday’s loss. It now has to be full steam ahead with the two season’s biggest competitions still on the table.
The hope: They will bounce back big time on Tuesday. This club is too good to let a two game losing streak put a damper on their season. Are they disappointed, sure, but they should also be focussed on not letting this happening again. Period.
COYG!
Gunner1953