Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger believes his own side was at fault for their demise in Thursday’s disappointing 2-0 loss to Southampton, claiming the defeat was “self-inflicted”.
A horrendous performance from the Gunners’ defense, French center-back Laurent Koscielny in particular, and goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny saw the north London side drop three points and fall further behind in the race for a top-four finish.
“We put a lot of energy into the game and we were quite in control, but it is a self-inflicted defeat,” said Wenger, who apologized to the fans after the final whistle.
“We were [dominant when Southampton scored], but we couldn’t take our chances. On top of that, we not only couldn’t take them but we gave them chances and that is too much at our level.
“It is not the first time it has happened. We did not defend well enough in the final third, and we paid a heavy price for it today.
Thursday's defeat saw the return of the Wenger Out boys
Let's forget a new DM. We actually need a new manager.. #wengerout
— Olugbenga Adeniyi (@OlugbengaAyo) January 2, 2015
bring on Klopp.. Wenger is a flop #wengerout!
— Heisenberg™ (@githu__) January 2, 2015
We can't keep creeping through games like this. Papering over cracks with the odd Win. Nothing is changing! Awful performance!#WengerOut
— I WANT MY AFC BACK! (@Davidegooner) January 1, 2015
Arsene jokes about his team's terrible defense after the 2-0 loss to Southampton
“I am disappointed because there was at least a draw in the game, and if we were better defensively we could have won it. We have given a lot, I cannot fault the attitude of the team but we were again haunted by the ghost of what we seen since the start of the season.”
Le Prof also commented on the fan who made his way to the Gunners dugout to confront the French manager and the Arsenal bench. Wenger believed the fan to be a Southampton supporter, though the Saints were informed he was a Gooner.
“It was a young boy,” Wenger confessed about the fan, who was quickly apprehended by the stewards before being arrested. “I think he was a Southampton fan. He was not aggressive at all. I don’t think he said anything. Honestly, he was not aggressive.”
