‘Manchester United Defeat Affected Us’- Arsenal Boss Wenger Speaks After 1-1 Draw Against Southampton

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said his side’s slow start in games is becoming a problem, after they scraped a draw against Southampton.

Substitute Olivier Giroud glanced in a superb late header to salvage a point after the Gunners had trailed since the third minute.

“In the last two weeks unfortunately we are losing points after a bad start,” said Wenger, who saw his side concede twice in the first 11 minutes of the 3-1 defeat by Manchester United eight days previously.

“I felt the Manchester United game played a bit of a part in the head of our defenders,” he said.

“They were a bit apprehensive to start well again and that’s why it is sometimes not good to talk about the problem because you create a bigger one.”

Charlie Austin clipped home an early opener for the home side with the away defence mere onlookers.

The Southampton striker drilled a stinging shot into Petr Cech’s gloves shortly after, then hit the post from an offside position.

A sharp save from Aaron Ramsey apart, Southampton goalkeeper Fraser Forster had little to do as the visitors struggled to carve out clear-cut chances before Giroud climbed above Virgil van Dijk to steer home Alexis Sanchez’s cross and make Arsenal’s possession finally pay.