Arsène Wenger berated his Arsenal players for a lack of urgency and incision after they conceded two “cheap goals” in suffering a first defeat since the opening weekend of the season in the League Cup quarter-finals against Southampton. They left the pitch at the end of both halves to a chorus of boos from the home support.
The hosts made 10 changes to the team who defeated Bournemouth on Sunday, and lost Mohamed Elneny to illness before the interval, as Southampton reached their first semi-final in this competition for 30 years. Goals from Jordy Clasie and Ryan Bertrand secured a two-legged tie with Liverpool in the new year, and Claude Puel’s team were dominant throughout.
“I’m disappointed,” said Wenger, who hopes to have Olivier Giroud available for Saturday’s trip to West Ham after a groin problem. “We had a disappointing performance, particularly in the first half. I think we were not good enough defensively and gave cheap goals away.
“ It was better in the second, but it was one of those nights where you look like you could play two hours without scoring a goal. We didn’t have enough urgency in the first half and were weak in some departments. We paid for that.
“We were not incisive enough and they were sharper than us and fitter. If you give someone a handicap of two goals, against a Premier League side it’s difficult. We had players out there who are used to top-level competition, but we didn’t have the right urgency.”
Asked about the supporters’ reaction, Wenger said: “The fans never expect too much. It’s down to us to give them what they want. It is a fact. We have to live with that. But, of the players who featured today, Gabriel played on Saturday, Carl Jenkinson has been in the team recently, and Kieran Gibbs has played a lot recently.
“ On the night we were just not at our best. That’s an explanation more than an excuse because there are no excuses. But I can only say ‘well done’ to Southampton. They were better than us tonight.”
