“1-0 to the Arsenal” sang a home crowd delighted that Alexis Sanchez had added the latest installment of a long list of late goals, to keep Arsene Wenger’s side in the chase for a top four place.
Arsenal may have plucked the best from Southampton over the years but their struggle to beat the rest was down in part to some inspired keeping from Fraser Forster.
But credit to the visitors, after their first knock back of an unexpectedly successful season against Manchester City, last night they were straight back to their resilient self, matching Arsenal in most regards and threatening them on the counter.
Too much familiarity can perhaps be a bad thing and goodness knows Arsenal have been doing a fair bit of scouting down in Southampton over the years.
From Theo Walcott to Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, the conveyor belt from the coast has been ferrying your Saints stars regularly up to the capital with Calum Chambers the latest example.
With possession the key, actually posing a serious threat on goal had to sneak in through the window, and chances in the first half were few and far between.
The first fell to Danny Welbeck early on, but when put through, he chose a route so far round Forster it never came near to curling back inside the near post either.
At the other end Graziano Pelle showed all the composure needed for a master marksman – right up until it came time to pull the trigger.
He produced the deftest of touches to set up Steven Davis for a ‘one-two’ but when the ball landed back squarely on his laces–bang–RowZwas the inexcusable destination.
It was not until first-half injury time until either goal came under serious threat. First Pelle’s low drive took a deflection which diverted it straight into the arms of Emiliano Martinez, still deputising for the injured Wojciech Szczesny.
Then, perhaps the sharpest chance of the half, Santi Cazorla’s free-kick picked out Welbeck whose sharp flick needed an acrobatic push from Fraser Forster to scoop the ball up and over the bar.
Sadly, though, for the neutral the second half continued in similar vein. Even technical wizards like Cazorla were succumbing to the malaise, the Spain international sparking the latest round of boos with a scooped shot from the edge of the area that flew at least 20 yards over the bar.
Both bosses made changes – although Arsene Wenger’s had a mixed reception. Referee Andre Marriner would have been delighted that Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain was removed before Kieran Gibbs could be called into action – the official got the pair mixed up in a red-card fiasco at Chelsea the last time he refereed the Gunners.
The rest of the Emirates were less pleased though, and loud boos were heard as the England winger made way for Olivier Giroud.
Nevertheless, Giroud’s first contribution was the most direct of the night so far – a thumping near-post drive which Forster had to beat away with both his fists. It seemed to lift the Emirates finally, and moments later Welbeck stretched the Southampton keeper even further with a shot destined for the corner if it had not been for Forster’s giant paw.
Arsenal by now were looking very much the stronger – they just had to find a way past a team who have conceded just five times on their travels.
But it was not until Southampton were reduced to 10 men for the last seven minutes when Toby Alderweireld limped off with all substitutions already made that they were able to gain the advantage. Giroud was in the thick of it, Aaron Ramsey dug out a cut-back and Sanchez, as so often this season, was in the right place at the right time to steer Arsenal through.
ARSENAL (4-2-3-1): Martinez; Chambers, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Monreal; Flamini, Ramsey; Cazorla, Oxlade-Chamberlain (Giroud 65), Sanchez; Welbeck (Podolsk 81). Goal: Sanchez 89. NEXT UP: Stoke (a), Sat PL.
SOUTHAMPTON (4-2-3-1): Forster; Clyne, Fonte, Alderweireld, Bertrand; Wanyama, Cork (Yoshida 29); Davis, Tadic (Mane 62), Long (Mayuka 81); Pelle. Booked: Alderweireld, Wanyama. NEXT UP: Man Utd (h), Mon PL.
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