The festive period always produces some bizarre results, but Southampton beating Arsenal 4-0 was never part of the script.
Ronald Koeman’s team had lost four of their last five games, but a combination of fine finishing and a touch of luck helped them stop the Gunners going top of the league.
Arsenal named an unchanged line-up, and their fans were confident.
https://twitter.com/GunneRoi/status/680835557988167680
But that all changed when Cuco Martina, of all people, opened the scoring with a thunderbolt of a strike.
Fuck off Martina!! What a goal!!
— Stringer Bell (@JoachimHPS) December 26, 2015
There might have been a touch of offside, though
Beautiful strike by Martina, but that ball was played offside 😒
— Jake (@loonygooners) December 26, 2015
No complaints about the second goal from Shane Long, though, or the third from Jose Fonte.
Well, maybe a few complaints.
https://twitter.com/savvygooner/status/680863450923462656
Petition to stop Jon Moss refereeing future Arsenal games please
— XY (@YouMeAt__69) December 26, 2015
So an offside 1st goal,an unawarded foul in the buildup to the 2nd goal & a wrongful corner lead to the 3rd goal.Jon Moss ladies and gents.
— Arsenal-hølic (@yahiamansoor) December 26, 2015
Arsenal fans have seen it all before, of course.
https://twitter.com/KitCaless/status/680855117558595584
https://twitter.com/joejtyler/status/680856055082037248
Only #Arsenal could go from giving you an amazing display against Man City to then have a shocker as few days later……
— James R (@jrtaylor42_) December 26, 2015
And there was just enough time for Long to make it four at the death.
It's gonna be Long-ly this Christmas
— Chris (@chrs00) December 26, 2015
Even Craig David was enjoying himself.
Ummmm 👀🎅🏽 pic.twitter.com/oryU62XmRU
— Craig David (@CraigDavid) December 26, 2015
Arsenal will have to pick themselves up for the visit of Bournemouth on Monday – it’s suddenly looking like a big game for them.