Arsenal's EFL Cup Exit May Be No Disaster in the Long Run

Arsenal’s long unbeaten record is over. A run of 19 games without defeat came to an end as the Gunners put in a lifeless display to see them beaten 2-0 by Southampton on Wednesday. Their chance of EFL Cup glory is gone, and the squad must now focus their attention on more prestigious competitions.

Despite the disappointment, there will not be too much despair among the Arsenal fans. In reality, the lighter schedule could eventually benefit them.

That’s not to suggest Arsenal threw the game. This was actually a stronger lineup than manager Arsene Wenger had named in either of the two previous rounds. The back four had a familiar look to anyone who’d watched Arsenal against Nottingham Forest…