Mikel Arteta reportedly ‘fumed’ at Ben White and Cedric during Arsenal’s defeat away to Southampton yesterday afternoon.
Arsenal missed the chance to move level on points with fourth-placed Tottenham Hotspur after losing 1-0 at St Mary’s.
Spurs had lost to Brighton by the same scoreline earlier on the Saturday, meaning the Gunners missed a glorious chance to reinvigorate their bid to qualify for the Champions League.
Arteta’s side certainly had their chances, but for the most part it wasn’t good enough from the North Londoners – and in particular, Cedric and White.
The two Arsenal defenders weren’t as adventurous as they could’ve been with their passing.
According to Football London, the Spanish manager was seen ‘frantically’ gesturing to the duo to move the ball forward instead of being so ‘conservative’.
Arsenal’s attacks usually build from defence so if the rearguard isn’t doing their jobs in possession then it has a detrimental knock-on effect for the players ahead of them.
This was the North Londoners’ third-straight Premier League defeat, though.
There are massive problems beyond Cedric and White’s passing and once Arteta figures out the primary issue, the quicker Arsenal can get their top-four bid back on track.
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