White slammed for "over the top" reaction after Arsenal stumble at Southampton

Former Arsenal defender Lee Dixon has hit out at Ben White's "over the top" reaction following Sunday's 1-1 draw with Southampton.

Mikel Arteta's side dropped points for just the second time this season against the Saints, who had trailed at the break courtesy of Granit Xhaka's second goal in four days. But Southampton produced a much better performance in the second-half and Stuart Armstrong restored parity in the 65th minute.

Arsenal headed into the weekend four points clear of Manchester City, but their lead at the top of the Premier League over the reigning champions has now been cut to two points.

And White, who teed up Xhaka for the opening goal of the game, couldn't hide his disappointment when he was conducting his post-match duties after the match.

He told ViaPlay: "I think the first half was really good. We created loads of chances and we should have scored more. We should have probably put the game to bed in the first half and we didn't."

When he was asked why the Gunners didn't win the game, he added: "[We were] Sloppy in possession, didn't win duels, the opposite to the first half and that's why the game went the way it did. We're only human… it's tricky."

White was then quizzed on his feelings after providing the assist for Xhaka's goal. He added: "Obviously to be a part of it is amazing but it's about the team and unfortunately we didn't get the win today."

While the former Brighton man's blunt post-match assessment has given some Arsenal fans a bit of light-hearted entertainment, Gunners favourite Dixon was unimpressed with White's outspoken reaction to the result.

Join the debate! What did you make of Arsenal's performance against Southampton? Let us know here.

After watching the defender's post-match comments, Dixon questioned White's dramatic comments and said: "Wow, did they get beat 8-0? Yeah, that was a little bit over the top.

"He's feeling what he's feeling but I still think that this season, when you play like that in the second half, you've got to take it on the chin and go, 'yeah, we didn't play great, move on to the next one'. But he was very down there wasn't he?"

He added: "I think it [Arsenal's poor finishing] would've been Mikel's concern at half time because you always remember the game that's just gone, they had a midweek game but the last Premier League game he'll remember how in control they were against Leeds and then how it went away from them in the second half.

"It was very similar, this time Southampton got the goal. But tomorrow when he's softened his view on it he'll say it's a decent point, because they could've lost that game in the end."

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