Gary Lineker has pinpointed Arsenal’s mass withdrawal from international football last week as a ‘signal of panic’, after the Gunners were stunned by Southampton in the FA Cup quarter-finals on Saturday night.
The Premier League leaders were beaten 2-1 by the Championship side, with Shea Charles netting a dramatic winner five minutes from time to secure a spot in the semi-finals against the odds.
It was Arsenal’s second consecutive defeat in all competitions, after they lost in the Carabao Cup final to Manchester City before the international break, meaning their dreams of an unprecedented quadruple have been crushed.
Following their loss to City, 11 of the Gunners’ squad withdrew from international duty during the international break, including both Gabriel Magalhaes and Martin Odegaard, who recovered in time to start against the Saints.
And former Tottenham and Barcelona striker Lineker believes the withdrawals were a sign of worry from Arteta and the players.
Gary Lineker believes that Arsenal’s mass withdrawl during the international break showed ‘panic’ before they lost to Southampton in the FA Cup
Gabriel was one of 11 players to withdraw form international duty, but he started in the 2-1 defeat to the Saints on Saturday
‘Southampton played exceptionally well and Arsenal were off it,’ Lineker told The Rest Is Football podcast.
‘It’s obviously easier in hindsight after they’ve lost, but I thought there was a slight signal of panic at Arsenal after the City game when they withdrew so many players, or the players themselves withdrew from the international games they were about to play.
‘Most of those players featured at some stage during the game at St Mary’s, either coming off the bench or otherwise, and I just wonder whether it showed just a little bit of panic when you need a bit of calm and confidence.
‘And perhaps it’s good to let the players play international football. It’s easy to say that now, but I just wonder if you ordinarily do that? I’m not sure you would.’
However, Lineker’s co-host Alan Shearer was more understanding of the players and believes the Gunners’ worries should lie with the performance on the south coast.
Shearer said: ‘I totally understand why they all pulled out because they are on the brink of history, Arsenal. And still could be. I think that’s really important to say because they are still in the two main competitions.
‘I understood why so many pulled out, but there were genuine injuries – Saka didn’t play, Declan Rice didn’t play. Regardless of who pulled out, and who played and who didn’t play, they still had a good enough team to beat Southampton.
‘Southampton wanted it more than Arsenal did, and that would be a worrying sign for me because I don’t care who you are and what players you play, you can’t turn the form on and off like that. Momentum is such an amazing thing in football.’
The back-to-back defeats are the first real signs that the pressure is getting to this Arsenal side, as they hunt down their first trophy in six years.
While the defeat to Southampton saw their quadruple hopes halved, they remain comfortably in the box seat for the Premier League title – sitting nine points clear of second-placed City – and they are in the last eight of the Champions League.
Noni Madueke withdrew from England duty midway through the camp but was fit enough to come off the bench at St. Mary’s
‘It’s been a tough two weeks for Arsenal,’ Lineker said. ‘People are asking if they’re panicking or if it’s a crisis, it’s definitely a little wobble.
‘Obviously, Gabriel went off with ice on his knee, so that’s a concern because he will be a big miss if he’s out. The next game or two are hugely important for Arsenal; they need to steady the ship, there’s no doubt about it.
‘They’ve got a huge lead in the title race, but it’s squeaky bum time. I think they will be fine. I think they will win the league, which will still be the main thing for them.
‘The Champions League would obviously be an enormous bonus because it’s a competition they’ve never won.
‘I’m pretty confident they will win the league. It’s not a bad situation to be in, nine points clear at the top of the Premier League and in the quarter-finals of the Champions League.’
