Southampton 3-2  Arsenal - 4 prime points | Premier League 2018-19

Arsenal's bad defending

Club captain and long-term defender Koscielny returned, but it wasn't the best of performances

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Arsenal's poor defending has been a concern for a while, and this was perhaps the club's undoing in the latter Wenger period.

The off-the-ball work has improved somewhat. But then the organisational facets here were weak.

This has cost Arsenal in numerous games this season - and it came to a head in this game.

Koscielny is a respected and long-standing defender at the club - but in this game he was poor.

Arsenal did have a makeshift defence, as both Sokratis and Mustafi were unavailable. Bernd Leno made an error in the third goal that Austin scored. But then despite some good recent performances, he made some errors here that were costly.

The goals conceded in recent Arsenal games often stem from organisational errors, and this is something that Emery must correct readily.

Does Arsenal need a Van Dijk-esque signing? Possibly. But then the club's defensive issues have been persisting for a while, and Emery with his meticulous tactical renown must correct this. If not, then a top-four push may not be attainable.

Hector Bellerin also went off injured, and given his recent form, it would be a blow if it's a long-term matter.