Slick Southampton make Arsene Wenger pay heavy price for selection gamble

Arsenal 0 Southampton 2: Arsene Wenger’s EFL Cup gamble backfired in spectacular fashion last night as he made 10 changes to an Arsenal side that was comfortably beaten by Southampton, who made it through to the League Cup semi-finals for the first time since 1987.

Arsenal had often bow out at this stage of the competition — this was their fifth quarter-final defeat from their last six and despite not making it a priority, Wenger still cut a frustrated and often angry figure on the touchline.

“We had a disappointing performance, especially in the first half when we have any cheap goals,” said Wenger.