Arsenal fans plead for reintroduction of one player despite early lead in Southampton clash

The Arsenal faithful have flooded to social media on Saturday, to call for a major shake-up to the club’s ranks in the middle of the park.

Laca on target

Mikel Arteta’s men are of course currently locked in action.

On the back of an alarming dip in form of late, culminating in three defeats across the club’s last four outings, the Gunners welcomed Ralph Hasenhuttl’s Southampton to the Emirates, for a Premier League clash.

Arsenal were no doubt aware ahead of kick-off that a return to winning ways on Saturday would guide them clear of both Tottenham and Manchester United in the English top-flight, to within a solitary point of the top-4.

LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND – DECEMBER 06: Eddie Nketiah of Arsenal reacts after missing a chance during the Premier League match between Everton and Arsenal at Goodison Park on December 06, 2021 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Naomi Baker/Getty Images)

And, late in the first-half of action, a bounce-back result is precisely what the hosts are headed towards.

Arsenal currently lead Southampton by a goal to nil, owing to a wonderfully-worked team move out from the back, which eventually culminated in Bukayo Saka’s pull-back being slotted home in style by Alexandre Lacazette.

*Update* – Martin Odegaard has since made it 2-0.

Lokonga calls mount

As alluded to above, though, despite their side’s advantage on the scoreline, many of a Gunners persuasion remain altogether unhappy with the performance of the club’s stars thus far this afternoon.

It was Southampton who came out of the traps much the stronger of the two sides, leading to Arsenal essentially being pinned back inside their own half.

And, evidently, one area which many Arsenal fans feel was responsible for the hosts’ early struggles was the middle of the park.

In turn, calls have quickly spread across social media for the recently returned Granit Xhaka to be dropped to the bench once more, to make space for summer recruit Sambi Lokonga:

Cant lie, ive Xhaka’s poor mobility one too many times. So poor. Lokonga should be playing man

— Jimbob 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 (@JimiMartin23) December 11, 2021

Can anyone explain to me what xhaka giving us over Lokonga? I’m lost.

— JoshAFC (@josh_afc) December 11, 2021

Just let Lokonga play. I’ve had enough of this midfield

— PG (@A_manroh) December 11, 2021

This midfield has been a problem all season how can you control games or even sustain pressure like this? Lokonga offers more idc how young he is I’d rather see him much more dynamism. Missing ESR too🥺

— rebecca🥀 (@rebeccamariaxo) December 11, 2021

Lokonga > Xhaka

— Kamz 🇲🇾 (@kapalekotakau) December 11, 2021

Time for Granit to leave in the summer and we should start phasing him out the 11, Lokonga is the superior player

— Boogie Bousins 🍉 (@ragslos) December 11, 2021

Sorry but at the moment it seems Lokonga > Xhaka imo.

— Pépé Dem Boi 🔴⚪️ (@PepeDemBoi) December 11, 2021

Our midfield was actually starting to look competent and mobile. Man of the match performances from Maitland Niles and Lokonga.

Then Arteta shoves Xhaka straight back in and all the old problems resurface. Clueless.

— J.A. aka Kunte’s kid (@TheEyeOfJA) December 11, 2021

You see that Dynamism Lokonga gives us in the middle? We’ve been sorely missing it since the lad hasn’t been playing.

— Your Auto Deal Guy (@Layqan) December 11, 2021

Granit Xhaka is useless right now give me Lokonga expeditiously

— Mac Johnson (@MacJohnson22152) December 11, 2021

Drop both xhaka and Partey next game and start Lokonga and AMN

— 🇷🇴 (@assnavIad) December 11, 2021

How Xhaka plays over lokonga I’ll never understand. And I’m tired of hearing Partey is shit when he’s given all the responsibility of the midfield

— Constable Brown aka Boy Blue (@DavidInIRasta) December 11, 2021

Why Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is missing for Arsenal against Southampton

Arsenal vs Southampton live streaming: Watch Premier League online