A disappointing night ended in stalemate at the Emirates, and we were unable to get the better of a resilient Southampton side. There were some surprises in the lineup, with Per Mertesacker left out and Mathieu Flamini rather bizarrely included. Alexis Sanchez started his first Premier League game since his return from injury, while Mesut Özil was back after being handed a rest over the weekend. The game started brightly for both sides, with Southampton earning a couple of set pieces that came to nothing before Alexis and Özil combined to create what would arguably prove to be the best chance of the game. The Chilean's long ball over the top was perfect for the German playmaker to run...
Full Story »