As it happened: Southampton 1 vs 3, Gunners triumphant in entertaining battle with Saints

Everyone hoped for a better game than this fixture produced in the FA Cup and it certainly delivered.

 

It was arguably one of Arsenal's best performances of the season. They came from behind to win 3-1 and looked great throughout. The Gunners pressed well all game and played just as well in possession. There needs to be a special mention for Cedric with his incredible range of passing on display today and certainly instrumental in the result. Arteta's side has now won their last three away games with the base of youth talent playing dividends.

 

Southampton weren't out of the game by any means but will rule over missed opportunities in the first half, before quieting down for the second period. The lack of goals may be a concern over recent matches but they gave a good account of themselves, just not consistent enough throughout the match to deserve even a point.

That's it, the game is over here on the South Coast in a highly entertaining game as Arsenal win 3-1.

Five minutes to be added here.

Shooting from the left of the D, Ward-Prowse directs his shot to the right of Leno who dives to keep out the shot as it looked like it was on it's way in.

 

 

Southampton have a free-kick in prime Ward-Prowse territory.

With the two-goal cushion, Arsenal have dropped back slightly and are making it difficult to find space and forcing them to go long on occasions. Unsuccessfully though.

Dan N'Lundulu and Caleb Watts enter the field of play for Che Adams and Danny Ings.

Elneny also comes on for Thomas Partey.

Cedric for the goal played an impeccable ball across to Willian, who had just come on too, he then played it across for Lacazette to make it 3-1 with a tap in and takes his tally to ten for the campaign.

Brilliant play from Arsenal following the break-in play for the injury to make it 3-1.

As Pepe went off he receives a yellow card for taking his time and not going off at the nearest edge of the pitch.

He protests as Smith-Rowe is down injured and now receives treatment. With Smith-Rowe now making way and not Pepe.

Jake Voskins is the first player to make way as Nathan Redmond is introduced.

Martinelli also comes on for Pepe.

Ings has been fairly quiet in this match so far but dances in the box past multiple defenders and just can't get a shot away. Some fantastic footwork though in the buildup there.

It's Cedric again with a great pass this time across to the right which finds Saka.

Brimming with confidence Saka cuts into the box and looks to curl one from his left foot but he can not hit the target on this occasion. 

The former Saints man goes on a great run down the left, cuts inside and into the box playing the ball across goal.

The ball is intercepted and bounces around, but it is eventually cleared by Hasnehuttl's side.

Chances at both ends in the last few minutes, neither amount to much but both sides still very much looking to add to their tallies.

Interesting game to watch with both teams pressing well out of possession and playing well with it.

The opening five minutes of the second-half haven't lived up to the same period during the first.

However, five minutes in and Theo Walcott shoots centrally from just outside the box and forces a smart save from Leno.

Following the half time break, the teams are now back out for the second half.

Can Southampton get back into this or will Arsenal successfully resist? 

More of the same the second half for Arsenal having fallen behind they bounced back to lead 2-1 at the break. The high-press paying off well.

Southampton had further chances too and are still very much in the game, they just need to attempt to have more chances inside the box rather than outside.

Following an entertaining 45 minutes there will be an additional two prior to the break.

Lacazette appears to be brought down in the box, shouts for a penalty are waved away by the referee.

Upon a VAR check, it was the correct decision with the Frenchman going down too easily.

Lacazette played a great ball to Saka who against the onrushing Alex McCarthy took it around the keeper, off-balance, and buries it home to put his side ahead.

Having been behind Arsenal now lead thanks to the exploits of Saka.

In a series of chances for the home side, Armstrong looked to double his tally and restore his sides lead with a curling effort from the left-hand corner of the box.

Unfortunately, he curled his shot around the post too, but another chance nonetheless.

Attacking down the right now Valery finds himself in space just outside the box as he is played into possession. 

The French full-back shot, but could only shoot high into the stand.

Southampton are known for their pressing style but ARsenal are doing the exact same in what is a lively affair so far with end to end action.

Southampton build another attack down their left as Voskins whips in a perfectly weighted ball to the head of Che Adams. The striker forced a good save from Leno, as a result, to keep the score even.

The first card of the match has been awarded to Bellerin having stopped a Southampton attack midway through his half.

Ward-Prowse took the resulting free-kick with a promising ball in, only to be collected by Leno.

The first 15 minutes have been lively with both teams pressing well and set pieces playing their part.

Certainly better than the FA Cup fixture already!

Following an Arsenal attack, Cedric managed to find himself on the edge of the box and volleyed a shot towards goal.

The ball just clipped over as the fullback came close to finding the back of the net against his former side.

Arsenal have just taken their fourth corner of the game, although calmy collected by McCarthy in the Saints net.

Saints too have had one so far, of which they opened the scoring

Arsenal beat Southampton at their own game with a high press. Partey won the ball initially and then passed to Xhaka.

 

The Swiss international then timed his subsequent pass well to slot through to Pepe, who tucked away as he marched into the box.

Only minutes after Saints opened the scoring Arsenal have bounced back with an equaliser through Pepe.

On the back of an Arsenal corner, Southampton countered and won one of their own.

There was only man for the job, James Ward-Prowse, who put in a great ball for Armstrong to volley home and put his side 1-0 up.

Stuart Armstrong has opened the scoring of the affair.

With Lacazette running through on goal McCarthy comes out to block the shot.

The teams are out and the match has begun, let's hope for a higher scoring game than on the weekend!

On a chilly night on the South Coast, the sides are out here at St.Mary's. 

Kick-off is only 15 minutes away now, fans will be hoping for more goals in this game than this fixture produced in the cup on the weekend.

Currently, Southampton and Arsenal are separated by two points with Saints in tenth and the Gunners in eleventh.

A win for the home side could take them up to seventh, and the same for Arsenal could see them climb to eighth. 

Speaking ahead of the match with the media, he said: "We know that we need to have every part of our game being good on Tuesday night."

 

You can check out all his other pre-match comments here.

Despite being anticipated he would return today Aubameyang is still absent from the squad as Lacazette starts up-front.

 

Smith-Rowe is back in the side in between Pepe and Saka in the attacking midfield.

Yan Valery and Jake Voskins both start as the fullbacks in what is a duo of forced changes from Ralph Hasenhuttl.

 

Ibrahima Diallo also starts in midfield for his tenth league game alongside the captain Ward-Prowse.

Southampton - McCarthy, Valery, Bednarek, Stephens, Voskins, Armstrong, Diallo, Ward-Prowse, Walcott, Adams, Ings

Arsenal - Leno, Bellerin, Holding, Luiz, Soares, Partey, Xhaka, Pepe, Smith-Rowe, Saka, Lacazette

It may only feel like yesterday these sides met, but it as actually three days ago in the FA Cup.

 

Again on the South Coast, the Saints came away victorious following an early own goal from Gabrial, enough to put them through to the quarters and knock Arsenal out.

The game will be shown live on BT Sport 1 and BT Sport 1 HD from 7:30 pm with kick-off at St Mary’s getting underway at 8:15 pm.

 

Live text updates are also available on the VAVEL website and the Southampton VAVEL Twitter Page.

The Gunners will be boosted by the return of captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang after missing the cup clash for “personal family reasons.”

Mikel Arteta, however, will be without Kieran Tierney, who has a calf problem.

For all your pre-match information check out the preview here on Vavel.

The home side will be without fullbacks Kyle Walker-Peters and Ryan Bertrand with the former injured and later suspended.

 

Along with potentially, another seven ruled out through injuries. But Nathan Redmond is expected to return to the side.

 

Check out the match preview here for all your pre-match information.