Match ends, Southampton 1, Arsenal 3.
SouthamptonSouthampton1ArsenalArsenal3
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta dedicated his side's Premier League win over Southampton to absent captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, who missed the game for personal reasons.
The Gunners made light of their star striker's absence as they continued their excellent run of league form by coming from behind to beat the Saints in an eventful game.
After Alexandre Lacazette missed a glorious chance to give the Gunners a first-minute lead, Stuart Armstrong put Southampton ahead from a wonderful delivery by captain James Ward-Prowse.
But the lead lasted just five minutes, as Nicolas Pepe equalised with a neat finish, before both sides created clear chances.
Former Saints defender Cedric Soares volleyed narrowly wide at one end while Bernd Leno produced a flying save to keep out a header by Che Adams at the other.
England winger Bukayo Saka put the Gunners ahead after going past keeper Alex McCarthy, who had come rushing out of his penalty area, before the 19-year-old picked out Lacazette to seal the points, the Frenchman appearing to send a message of support to Aubameyang in the process.
"I loved how they support each other and how they protect each other," said Arteta, who was also without Aubameyang for the teams' FA Cup meeting on Saturday. "Auba is having a difficult time and we are all behind him. This win was for him."
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Saka shines in classy win
When they were held 1-1 by Southampton at Emirates Stadium on 16 December, Arteta's side were 15th in the table and trailed the Saints by 10 points.
This latest impressive win lifted them above Ralph Hasenhuttl's side and up into eighth spot, five points off a top-four position. Not that Arteta is looking.
"I don't want to look at the table," said the Spaniard. "I want to look at ourselves, how we can get better, the reason we are playing better and winning football matches."
Arteta's team are finally producing results, with a fifth win in six league games easing the pain of Saturday's FA Cup exit, while building further momentum before Saturday's intriguing home game with high-flying Manchester United.
Saka once again showed why he is being touted for a big future with an energetic performance, which he capped with a fine finish, while Granit Xhaka and Lacazette also created goals.
Arsenal, who are close to signing attacking midfielder Martin Odegaard from Real Madrid on loan, are still a long way from where Arteta wants them to be.
But there are clear signs the Gunners are heading in the right direction after taking 16 points from the past 18 on offer.
Only Manchester City have won more points (18) and conceded fewer goals (one) than Arsenal in the Premier League since 26 December.
Arteta's players left the pitch wearing big smiles - a far cry from earlier in the season when they struggled to put a run of wins together.
Stuttering Saints
Southampton reach the halfway stage of their season with a healthy 29 points in the bank, but it is now one win in seven top-flight games for Hasenhuttl's side.
There is much to admire about the way they have gone about their business but this was an off-day as the Saints slipped to 11th in the table.
It might have been a different outcome but for Leno, with the Arsenal keeper making excellent saves to keep out Adams and, late in the game, a Ward-Prowse free-kick.
Armstrong's goal had given them the perfect start but Arsenal found plenty of space down the left hand side as they picked off the hosts.
The Saints went into the game on the back of five clean sheets in six league and cup games but struggled at the back against Arsenal without the presence of the suspended Ryan Bertrand and the injured Kyle Walker-Peters.
"The quality wasn't good enough to be competitive against this team," said Hasenhuttl.
"We still have 29 points, that is a good thing.
"We know that we are a good team if everything is perfect and we are in a good shape."
There will be no panic at St Mary's - and rightly so. But Hasenhuttl will be desperate his side return to winning ways sooner rather than later.
Young Gunner makes his mark - the stats
- Bukayo Saka became the second English teenager to score for Arsenal in consecutive Premier League appearances, after Ashley Cole in October 2000.
- Stuart Armstrong's opener for Southampton was the first Premier League goal Arsenal have conceded since Tammy Abraham scored against them for Chelsea on 26 December. It ended the Gunners' run of 367 minutes without conceding in the league.
- Southampton's James Ward-Prowse (26 years 86 days) made his 250th Premier League appearance, becoming the ninth-youngest player to reach this milestone in the competition's history.
- Alexandre Lacazette is the first Arsenal player to reach 10 goals in all competitions this season, while he has now hit double figures for goals in all four seasons since joining the Gunners.
- Only Matt Le Tissier (63) has registered more Premier League assists for Southampton than James Ward-Prowse (27, level with Dusan Tadic).
What's next?
Both teams are back in Premier League action on Saturday, with Southampton hosting Aston Villa (20:00 GMT) after Arsenal's home game with Manchester United (17:30).
Player of the match
SakaBukayo Saka
with an average of 8.84
Southampton
Avg
Squad number17Player nameArmstrongAverage rating6.12
Squad number8Player nameWard-ProwseAverage rating5.55
- Squad number10Player nameAdamsAverage rating
5.11
- Squad number27Player nameDialloAverage rating
5.09
Squad number35Player nameBednarekAverage rating5.02
- Squad number9Player nameIngsAverage rating
4.87
Squad number1Player nameMcCarthyAverage rating4.82
- Squad number18Player nameValeryAverage rating
4.72
- Squad number32Player nameWalcottAverage rating
4.52
- Squad number29Player nameVokinsAverage rating
4.49
Squad number5Player nameStephensAverage rating4.38
- Squad number40Player nameN'LunduluAverage rating
4.26
Squad number11Player nameRedmondAverage rating4.26
- Squad number65Player nameWattsAverage rating
4.20
Arsenal
Avg
- Squad number7Player nameSakaAverage rating
8.84
Squad number9Player nameLacazetteAverage rating8.19
Squad number17Player nameCédric SoaresAverage rating8.09
- Squad number32Player nameSmith RoweAverage rating
7.87
Squad number1Player nameLenoAverage rating7.76
- Squad number19Player namePépéAverage rating
7.71
Squad number16Player nameHoldingAverage rating7.69
- Squad number18Player nameParteyAverage rating
7.55
Squad number34Player nameXhakaAverage rating7.46
Squad number2Player nameBellerínAverage rating6.82
- Squad number23Player nameDavid LuizAverage rating
6.11
Squad number25Player nameMohamed ElnenyAverage rating6.02
- Squad number28Player nameWillockAverage rating
5.58
- Squad number12Player nameWillianAverage rating
5.35
Line-ups
Southampton
Formation 4-4-2
- 1McCarthy
- 18Valery
- 35Bednarek
- 5Stephens
- 29VokinsSubstituted forRedmondat 67'minutes
- 32WalcottSubstituted forN'Lunduluat 74'minutes
- 27Diallo
- 8Ward-Prowse
- 17Armstrong
- 10Adams
- 9IngsSubstituted forWattsat 74'minutesBooked at 90mins
Substitutes
- 7Long
- 11Redmond
- 31Ramsay
- 40N'Lundulu
- 44Forster
- 47Ferry
- 64Jankewitz
- 65Watts
- 72Chauke
Arsenal
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 1Leno
- 2BellerínBooked at 19mins
- 16Holding
- 23David Luiz
- 17Cédric Soares
- 18ParteySubstituted forElnenyat 78'minutes
- 34Xhaka
- 7Saka
- 32Smith RoweSubstituted forWillianat 72'minutes
- 19PépéBooked at 70minsSubstituted forWillockat 90+2'minutes
- 9Lacazette
Substitutes
- 6Gabriel
- 12Willian
- 15Maitland-Niles
- 21Chambers
- 25Elneny
- 28Willock
- 30Nketiah
- 33Ryan
- 35Martinelli
- Referee:
- Kevin Friend
Match Stats
Home TeamSouthamptonAway TeamArsenal
- Possession
- Home58%
- Away42%
- Shots
- Home13
- Away9
- Shots on Target
- Home5
- Away5
- Corners
- Home4
- Away5
- Fouls
- Home11
- Away6
Live Text
Post update
Full Time
Second Half ends, Southampton 1, Arsenal 3.
Substitution
Substitution, Arsenal. Joseph Willock replaces Nicolas Pépé.
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Foul by Yan Valery (Southampton).
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Willian (Arsenal) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Booking
Caleb Watts (Southampton) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
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Attempt missed. Nicolas Pépé (Arsenal) left footed shot from the left side of the box is just a bit too high. Assisted by Mohamed Elneny following a fast break.
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Corner, Southampton. Conceded by Rob Holding.
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Attempt missed. Ibrahima Diallo (Southampton) left footed shot from the left side of the six yard box misses to the right following a set piece situation.
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Attempt saved. James Ward-Prowse (Southampton) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the top left corner.
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Caleb Watts (Southampton) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Foul by Granit Xhaka (Arsenal).
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Attempt blocked. Che Adams (Southampton) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
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Foul by Stuart Armstrong (Southampton).
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Héctor Bellerín (Arsenal) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Daniel N'Lundulu (Southampton).
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Cédric Soares (Arsenal) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Substitution
Substitution, Arsenal. Mohamed Elneny replaces Thomas Partey because of an injury.
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Foul by Jan Bednarek (Southampton).
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Nicolas Pépé (Arsenal) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
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Comments
Join the conversation
Willian had his best "game" in a shirt since Fulham.
Cedric ain't no Tierney, but I doubt the latter would have played that ball for Saka with his right foot ;-)
Laca lost 5 stone that game. Work rate was immense.
COYG
But joking aside, well played Arsenal, moving swiftly up the table, good to see you stuck with your Manager and didn't panic.
Works too 😊
Saints injury problems are having a big effect and they don't have the same reserves as many other clubs. But once the players come back, they can start climbing the table and carry on in the cup.
Up to 8th and lots to take encouragement from.