Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has said that his squad selection can't be used as an excuse for the EFL Cup defeat to Southampton.

Wenger made ten changes to the starting eleven that played against AFC Bournemouth for the quarter-final defeat to the Saints.

The 2-0 loss at the Emirates Stadium put an end to the Gunners' unbeaten run of 19 games in all competitions.

"There are no excuses and we can only say Southampton were better than us," said Wenger.

"We had a disappointing performance, especially in the first half. We were not good enough defensively and we gave cheap goals away.

"It's one of those nights where you can play for two hours and not score. We were weak in some departments and we were punished for that.

"We were not incisive enough. They defended deep and were sharper and fitter than us. With a two-goal advantage they defended very well."

When asked about his team selection, Wenger said: "I regret the way the game went.

"We have played well until now and when you look at the players who didn't play tonight, they were on the edge physically.

"When you look at the team we had, I don't think that was the problem. We didn't have the right urgency from the beginning of the game."