Mikel Arteta told one Arsenal star should have ‘changed his mind’ after Southampton defeat

Former Arsenal star Kieran Gibbs highlighted one shining light from Arsenal’s defeat at Southampton who he hopes has given Mikel Arteta some serious food for thought.

The Gunners crashed out of the FA Cup on Saturday night following a shock 2-1 defeat against Southampton.

It had been hoped that Arteta’s side would produce an emphatic response to the their Carabao Cup final setback against Manchester City prior to the international break.

Instead, a heavily rotated side were outfought and outplayed by a Saints side who tore into their opponents and capitalised on some uncharacteristic defensive uncertainty.

Arsenal looked as though they were set to take control of the tie when substitute Viktor Gyokeres equalised midway through the second half but more ponderous defending allowed Shea Charles to grab a late winner for the Championship side.

The one bright spark for Arsenal was represented by the performance of Max Dowman who impressed on the right wing before being given even more responsibility in the N.10 role following Martin Odegaard’s withdrawal.

Arsenal’s teenage prodigy has already produced one matchwinning cameo in recent weeks having come of the bench to create history in the victory against Everton that helped open up a nine-point lead at the top of the Premier League table.

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Successive cup defeats and the international break have combined to kill the momentum generated by Dowman’s exploits against the Toffees but Gibbs believes he should be given license to feature more regularly during the run-in.

Asked if Dowman’s latest eye-catching performance would’ve changed Arteta’s view on how he uses the latest gem to roll off the Hale End Academy production line, Gibbs said: ‘I think given the performance today, yes.

Everything from Arsenal today came through him.

‘He was one of the bright sparks in today’s otherwise pretty average performance.

Will he go and put that pressure on him in the Premier League and Champions League remains to be seen.

‘I think he looks ready, he’s not a player who really plays the occasion he plays the game with what’s in front of him.

‘That’s why he’s such a special talent because he has the ability to take in a lot of information and have his speed of thought and execution is so high to at least get into the opponents box or get a corner.

‘That is what he’s been so good at.

Will he go and put him in in these next few Champions League and Premier League games when he’s used a certain formula that hasn’t involved him as much up until this point?

‘For me no.

I don’t think he will rely heavily on him.

He’ll probably get him in the squad and get him involved and put him in if he really needs to if they’re trying to find an answer and they just can’t.

‘I think that’s how he’ll be used.

But, at the same time he himself has made a case to play in these big games.’