![\"Southampton](\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/GettyImages-2269823691.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=646\")
\t<\/div>Former Arsenal star Kieran Gibbs highlighted one shining light from Arsenal\u2019s defeat at Southampton who he hopes has given Mikel Arteta some serious food for thought. <\/p>\n
The Gunners crashed out of the FA Cup on Saturday night following a shock 2-1 defeat against Southampton.<\/p>\n
It had been hoped that Arteta\u2019s side would produce an emphatic response to the their Carabao Cup final setback against Manchester City prior to the international break.<\/p>\n
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. <\/p>\n
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. <\/p>\n
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\u2019s withdrawal. <\/p>\n
Arsenal\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n
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Metro<\/strong>‘s weekly newsletter In The Mixer delivers punchy analysis and breakdowns of the biggest football stories directly to your inbox.<\/p>\n Sign up here, it’s an open goal.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n Successive cup defeats and the international break have combined to kill the momentum generated by Dowman\u2019s exploits against the Toffees but Gibbs believes he should be given license to feature more regularly during the run-in.<\/p>\n Asked if Dowman\u2019s latest eye-catching performance would\u2019ve changed Arteta\u2019s view on how he uses the latest gem to roll off the Hale End Academy production line, Gibbs said: \u2018I think given the performance today, yes. Everything from Arsenal today came through him. <\/p>\n \u2018He was one of the bright sparks in today\u2019s otherwise pretty average performance. Will he go and put that pressure on him in the Premier League and Champions League remains to be seen.<\/p>\n \u2018I think he looks ready, he\u2019s not a player who really plays the occasion he plays the game with what\u2019s in front of him. <\/p>\n \u2018That\u2019s why he\u2019s 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. <\/p>\n \u2018That is what he\u2019s been so good at. Will he go and put him in in these next few Champions League and Premier League games when he\u2019s used a certain formula that hasn\u2019t involved him as much up until this point? <\/p>\n \u2018For me no. I don\u2019t think he will rely heavily on him. He\u2019ll probably get him in the squad and get him involved and put him in if he really needs to if they\u2019re trying to find an answer and they just can\u2019t. <\/p>\n \u2018I think that\u2019s how he\u2019ll be used. But, at the same time he himself has made a case to play in these big games.\u2019<\/p>\n![\"**IMAGE](\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/SEI_292066911-dc9f.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=646\")
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