Match ends, Southampton 0, Arsenal 2.
Arsenal profit from Alex McCarthy error at Southampton
- From the section Premier League
A dreadful error from Southampton goalkeeper Alex McCarthy helped Arsenal achieve their first win since the return of the Premier League in an entertaining game played in sweltering heat at St Mary's.
McCarthy faltered under pressure from Eddie Nketiah following a back-pass, allowing the striker to intercept his attempted ball out slot into an unguarded net.
The win was sealed late on when Jack Stephens was sent off for fouling Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang as the last man and from the resulting free-kick substitute Joe Willock finished after Alexandre Lacazette's free-kick struck the wall and his follow-up was parried.
It was timely boost for the Gunners, who have struggled with injuries and form since the restart, losing their two games prior to this.
The victory, though, was not undeserved. Prior to the goal, Nketiah had seen a close-range finish ruled out for offside and Aubameyang had crashed an angled effort against the bar.
Coming after such an impressive display in their first game back at Norwich, the result continues Southampton's woeful inability to replicate their away form at St Mary's.
This was their 10th loss at home this season - equalling the club record for a Premier League season, set back in 1993-94 when their were 42 games in a campaign.
With 11 points separating them and the bottom three it is very unlikely that they will get dragged into a relegation fight.
Arsenal's win takes them back up to 10th but they still have a lot of work to do if they are to salvage something from this league season and qualify for Europe.
More to follow.
Line-ups
Southampton
- 1McCarthy
- 43ValerySubstituted forWalker-Petersat 45'minutes
- 5StephensBooked at 85mins
- 35Bednarek
- 21Bertrand
- 17Armstrong
- 16Ward-Prowse
- 23HøjbjergSubstituted forVestergaardat 90+1'minutes
- 22Redmond
- 9IngsSubstituted forRomeuat 90+1'minutes
- 20ObafemiSubstituted forLongat 45'minutes
Substitutes
- 4Vestergaard
- 7Long
- 10Adams
- 14Romeu
- 24Walker-Peters
- 27Smallbone
- 28Gunn
- 29Vokins
- 52Tella
Arsenal
- 26Martínez
- 2Bellerín
- 20MustafiBooked at 11mins
- 16Holding
- 3TierneySubstituted forKolasinacat 70'minutes
- 8CeballosSubstituted forMaitland-Nilesat 80'minutes
- 34Xhaka
- 77SakaBooked at 47mins
- 19PépéSubstituted forWillockat 64'minutes
- 30NketiahSubstituted forLacazetteat 79'minutes
- 14Aubameyang
Substitutes
- 5Papastathopoulos
- 9Lacazette
- 10Özil
- 15Maitland-Niles
- 24Nelson
- 28Willock
- 31Kolasinac
- 33Macey
- 57Smith
- Referee:
- Graham Scott
Match Stats
Home TeamSouthamptonAway TeamArsenal
- Possession
- Home52%
- Away48%
- Shots
- Home12
- Away10
- Shots on Target
- Home3
- Away5
- Corners
- Home4
- Away6
- Fouls
- Home10
- Away14
Live Text
Full Time
Second Half ends, Southampton 0, Arsenal 2.
Attempt missed. Alexandre Lacazette (Arsenal) header from the left side of the six yard box misses to the right. Assisted by Bukayo Saka with a cross.
Corner, Arsenal. Conceded by Jan Bednarek.
Shane Long (Southampton) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Sead Kolasinac (Arsenal).
Attempt saved. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Arsenal) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Bukayo Saka.
Corner, Arsenal. Conceded by Ryan Bertrand.
Substitution
Substitution, Southampton. Oriol Romeu replaces Danny Ings.
Substitution
Substitution, Southampton. Jannik Vestergaard replaces Pierre-Emile Højbjerg.
Corner, Arsenal. Conceded by Jan Bednarek.
Offside, Southampton. Alex McCarthy tries a through ball, but Kyle Walker-Peters is caught offside.
Goal!
Goal! Southampton 0, Arsenal 2. Joseph Willock (Arsenal) right footed shot from very close range to the bottom right corner following a set piece situation.
Attempt saved. Alexandre Lacazette (Arsenal) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal.
Attempt blocked. Alexandre Lacazette (Arsenal) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
VAR Decision: Red Card Jan Bednarek (Southampton).
Dismissal
Jack Stephens (Southampton) is shown the red card.
Foul by Jack Stephens (Southampton).
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Arsenal) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Danny Ings (Southampton) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Shkodran Mustafi (Arsenal).
Pierre-Emile Højbjerg (Southampton) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Joseph Willock (Arsenal).
Foul by Ryan Bertrand (Southampton).
Alexandre Lacazette (Arsenal) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Substitution
Substitution, Arsenal. Ainsley Maitland-Niles replaces Dani Ceballos.
Substitution
Substitution, Arsenal. Alexandre Lacazette replaces Eddie Nketiah.
Foul by Stuart Armstrong (Southampton).
Sead Kolasinac (Arsenal) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Attempt saved. Shane Long (Southampton) left footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the top left corner. Assisted by Jack Stephens.
Pierre-Emile Højbjerg (Southampton) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Eddie Nketiah (Arsenal).
Attempt missed. Nathan Redmond (Southampton) right footed shot from the left side of the box is close, but misses to the left.
Nathan Redmond (Southampton) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Dani Ceballos (Arsenal).
Substitution
Substitution, Arsenal. Sead Kolasinac replaces Kieran Tierney.
Attempt missed. Stuart Armstrong (Southampton) left footed shot from outside the box is just a bit too high. Assisted by James Ward-Prowse.
Corner, Southampton. Conceded by Kieran Tierney.
Substitution
Substitution, Arsenal. Joseph Willock replaces Nicolas Pépé.
Attempt missed. Danny Ings (Southampton) right footed shot from the centre of the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Shane Long.
