By Boris Mellor
March 3 2005

A bad day by the sea for the Gunners. Arsenal have lost Pires for 3 games due to injury and Van Persie for 1 game due to stupidity. Arsenal had gone in 1-0 up at half time with the Saints down to ten men.

In a match played at breakneck speed Arsenal led by a Ljunberg goal - set up by Henry, just before half time. Pires was stretchered off after an evil tackle by Prutton. As the second half commenced it appeared that there was no way back for Saints. But two poor errors of judgement threw the game away. The first was a rash tackle in no mans land by Mad Frankie, already on a yellow, he was sent off. At least unlike Prutton he went quietly, small mercies.

The sending off inspired the Saints, and from a corner came a second error, Lehmann flapped at a corner and Crouch headed in. Arsenal showed a lot of spirit and fought long and hard to get the lead back. They had 71% of possession, but the shots were either saved brilliantly by Smith, or just not good enough.

With only one actual striker left in the Arsenal team Cole became, alongside Henry, the best striker in the match. Henry had a brilliant curling shot saved by Paul Smith. Cole was having a great game getting forward into dangerous positions, Henry and Vieira powered the team ahead.

When in extra time Cole headed the ball in it looked like the winner. But Cole was flagged offside, it was a very close decision indeed. It was not Arsenals day in more ways than one. However the Saints have not been beaten at home for five months, so it was never going to be easy. But Van Persie’s idiotic tackle made it even harder. Meanwhile in spite of a fairly good game by the centre backs (one or two scares), the case for the defence still remains unproven. Dennis might have a fear of flying, but at least it doesn't apply to the ball being in the air.