OPINION
Southampton centre back Jack Stephens produced a remarkably woeful first half performance in his team’s clash with Arsenal on Sunday. The Englishman was absolutely dreadful in what was a catastrophic start to the game for the Saints. He wasn’t directly at fault for the first goal but he was one of the defenders who didn’t react quickly enough to what was going on. The second goal, though, was all Stephens. He dallied on in near his box, which is inexcusable, and allowed Alex Iwobi to knick it off him and find Henrikh Mkhitaryan who promptly turned the ball in. Defending has been a major bug-bear for Southampton this season, under both Mark Hughes and Ralph Hasenhutl, and that theme continued in the first half here. Stephens is one of the main culprits for that and that’s what we saw on Sunday. He simply cannot defend well enough at this level, that’s beyond doubt. Hopefully he improves after the break because he was awful early on at the Emirates Stadium.
This is Futbol has rounded up some of the best tweets below.
If Jack Stephens starts our next game I will give up.
— Kristian (@kristianoko) February 24, 2019
Jack Stephens is going to put us down himself if he keeps starting
— CryptoHazz (@hazzardsaints) February 24, 2019
Jack Stephens is a liability. Not even championship standard, yet he starts every week. Every week he is costing us points. Joke. @SouthamptonFC @AdamBlackmore #bbcfootball
— Anders (@AndersBSvensson) February 24, 2019
Jack Stephens makes Wesley Hoedt look like Maldini #saintsfc
— Calum (@sotonineuropa) February 24, 2019
Jack Stephens showing why he is by far and away our worst defender. #saintsfc
— RedmondsRiches (@RedmondsRiches) February 24, 2019
https://twitter.com/KeithGait/status/1099676065201573888
https://twitter.com/bencaffyn/status/1099675742286303232
https://twitter.com/Connor_T10/status/1099673457325891585
Watching Jack Stephens defend. #SaintsFC https://t.co/J1zoAtVNjl
— Ash (@ashley_whiteway) February 24, 2019