SOU vs ARS
Match Centre
SOU vs ARS As It Happened
Key moments so far
- Lacazette extends the visitors' lead from a Saka cross
- Saka gives Arsenal a narrow advantage going into the break
- Pepe equalises four minutes after Saints break the deadlock
- Saints take the lead through a sensational Armstrong strike
FULL-TIME: Saints 1-3 Arsenal
Mikel Arteta's side leave the south coast with all three points on this occasion, thanks to goals from Pepe, Saka and Lacazette. Saints took the lead early on through Armstrong, but were on the back foot following the near-immediate equaliser.
Diallo heads over
Lovely diagonal pass finds Valery in space on the right, and he lays it off to Watts. The cross is deep, but Diallo meets it with his head. He gets plenty of power, but less direction on the effort.
Arsenal substitution: Joseph Willock replaces Nicolas Pépé
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Time running out...
Time is running thin for Saints, as Watts gets booked for a late challenge on Elneny. The board goes up with 5 minutes on it to salvage something.
Alert save
Prowsey beats the wall, but Leno dives acrobatically to his right and makes a good save. Diallo was there on the follow up, but doesn't connect well enough with it.
Prowsey territory...
There's a dead ball opportunity for Saints here, with Ward-Prowse over it. It's fairly central, but still well within range. Arsenal take an age to line up their wall. And Prowsey makes Leno work...
Adams benefits from slice of luck
McCarthy punted the ball long, and it skips off of the wet turf, evading all midfield players and falls to Adams (who looked to be in an offside position). He tries to work space for the shot but it's well blocked.
Arsenal substitution: Mohamed Naser El Sayed Elneny replaces Thomas Partey
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Watts replaces Walcott
Young Caleb Watts replaces Theo Walcott in midfield.
Southampton substitution: Dan Nlundulu replaces Danny Ings
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Arsenal extend lead
The visitors benefit from a quick breakaway down the right, led by Saka, with Lacazette meeting the low pass at the back post to tap home.
GOAL
Alexandre Lacazette (72’) | 1 – 3
Arsenal substitution: Willian Borges Da Silva replaces Emile Smith Rowe
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Odd exchange on the sidelines
Pepe's number went up, to be replaced by Martinelli. But Smith-Rowe has gone down on the far side, causing some confusion on the two benches. Smith-Rowe is the one who is eventually replaced by Willian.
Southampton substitution: Nathan Redmond replaces Jake Vokins
First change for Saints. Diallo drops back to full-back.
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Jinxing run from Ings
Really quick feet from the Saints forward, who suddenly came to life in the box. He's beaten three Arsenal defenders but runs out of space. Very unlucky.
Saka a constant threat
The ball is switched to Saka, who enters into a foot race with Vokins before chopping inside onto his left foot. The shot is wayward.
Vokins searching delivery
The full-back travels well with the ball before trying to find a red shirt centrally. The delivery is deep and headed out for a corner. Nothing to report from that.
Smith-Rowe goes close
We expected an open half and that's exactly what we're getting. The young Arsenal forward goes close, squeezing the ball past McCarthy, but there's covering defenders. Stephens clears the danger.
Ings effort blocked
He's been quiet, by his usual standards. But picked the ball up in a promising position, 20 yards shy of goal, and let rip but the shot was well blocked. Saints looking to force the issue early on.
Smart move
Saints start the half with intent. Again Armstrong is involved, powering forward before working the ball to Theo. He has an option to his right in Valery but elects to shoot - forcing a good save from Leno.
Back under way...
Arsenal get us going again for the second half. Saints trailing, but plenty of life left in this one!
HALF-TIME: Saints 1-2 Arsenal
A bright first period from both sides, but it's the visitors who lead. Expect a very open second 45 minutes of football.
Wet and windy
Two minutes to be added here. Saints looking more comfortable in possession now, but Arsenal pose a huge threat when coming forward. Two corners to end the half, which are both cleared.
ADVANTAGE ARSENAL
McCarthy came a long way, but couldn't beat Arsenal winger Saka to the ball, as he skips around the onrushing Saints stopper and fires into an empty net. Vokins was caught by the accuracy of the pass from Lacazette.
GOAL
Bukayo Saka (38’) | 1 – 2
Armstrong finding space
The midfielder has been Saints' most expressive player in this first half, looking for any opportunity to get forward. He beats two players in Saints' latest attack before being thwarted. Walcott picks up the ball consequently, but is wasteful.
Impressive defending
Arsenal look to break down the right with Saka, who has been much quieter in the past 10 minutes, before trying to find Pepe but he's well tracked by Valery.
Well worked
Another well worked chance for the hosts goes begging. The ball was fired into Adams centrally, who cushioned a deft touch into the path of strike partner Ings, who then found Valery. The full-back motored forward with the ball, cut inside onto his left foot and struck at goal. Off target.
Superb play from Saints
The best move of the game, as Saints work the ball from a tight area on the right across to the left. Diallo found Vokins in acres on the far side, and he delivered an inviting cross towards Ings who arrowed his header at Leno's goal. Fine save from the Arsenal stopper.
Armstrong wins a promising free-kick
The midfielder wriggled free on the far side, before being brought down. Prowsey takes the delivery and finds Ings, who poked the ball goalwards but the offside flag was raised.
Saints forced to chase
The hosts are conceding much of the play as it stands, with Arsenal sharp in possession. A smart piece of play from Smith-Rowe creates another sight of goal, but Partey blasts high and wide.
Cedric volleys wide
Sustained spell of pressure from Mikel Arteta's side, who look right in the mood. It ends with Cedric trying an audacious effort on the volley, which skews off his boot and flies marginally wide.
Pepe equalises
There's an incredible intensity to this game in the early stages, as Arsenal draw themselves level. Yan Valery was caught the wrong side of Pepe, who keeps his balance before firing across McCarthy and into the far corner.
GOAL
Nicolas Pépé (7’) | 1 – 1
Arsenal with intent
Saka is looking lively for Arsenal, who find themselves behind early on. He dances past two players before crossing towards the box, it's cut out and goes behind for a corner. Luiz heads the resulting chance over.
WHAT A FINISH
It's a sublime finish from the Scot, who latched onto Prowsey's corner from the right and belted the ball home.
GOOOAL!!!
Stuart Armstrong (3’) | 1 – 0
Big chance for Lacazette
Early chance for the visitors, as Lacazette is freed. McCarthy is alert, and smothers the danger before Prowsey clears on the follow up. Energetic start.
20.17SHOWTIME 😇
Stuart Armstrong takes the first kick of the game, Saints have possession and are working the ball side to side. A first touch for Yan Valery early on. Arsenal straight on the attack though...
20.16Teams are out...
Both sides have taken to the field and we're only minutes away from kick-off. Saints gather for a huddle, let by the skipper.
20.14Dedicated comms alternative
Our commentary issue is currently being investigated, so there is another dedicated comms page for this evening. Click here.
20.06Warm-ups commence
Time to get warm...
19.46
Congratulations, skipper 👏👏
Tonight marks James Ward-Prowse's 300th appearance in a Southampton shirt. There's also milestones for Alex McCarthy and Jack Stephens as they reach 100 appearances for Saints and 100 Premier League appearances respectively.
19.41
Arsenal team 🔴
Starting XI: Leno (GK), Bellerin (c), Saka, Lacazette, Holding, Cedric, Partey, Pépé, Luiz, Smith-Rowe, Xhaka.
Subs: Ryan (GK), Gabriel, Willian, Maitland-Niles, Chambers, Elneny, Willock, Nketiah, Martinelli.
19.17McCarthy returns 😇
Taking in the scenery 😍
Working up towards tonight's 8:15pm kick-off...
18.32Journey back to December 😇
The best of the action from Saints' visit to Emirates Stadium this season...
18.2117.48I think he is so far also experienced that he is not nervous anymore and he knows what he has to do."
Ralph hasenhüttlon jake vokins
SAINTS: Armstrong excited for Saints' future
Stuart Armstrong is our latest cover star when SAINTS returns for the Premier League visit of Arsenal to St Mary’s tonight. Click here to find out what else is inside.
17.25TACTICAL WATCH: Diallo's new role
10.23we defend better as a team together and this is always the basis of everything.
ralph hasenhüttlon saints' defensive improvement
A date with the boss 😇
The manager sits down to chat Arsenal, form guide, who will or won't feature for Saints and the psychology behind playing a team twice in four days.
17.25⏪⏪ REWIND: To 4️⃣ days ago 😅
The best bits from a 1-0 triumph over Arsenal last weekend, as Saints sealed FA Cup progression.
17.24STAT ATTACK 🤓
Southampton have kept six home Premier League clean sheets this season, as many as they did in 2018/19 and 2019/20 combined; the Saints last kept more at St. Mary’s in 2016/17 (8).
16.38BACK AT ST MARY'S 😇
More action from the south coast, coming live to you from St Mary's Stadium! Saints host Arsenal for the second time in 4 days, having dumped Mikel Arteta's side out of the FA Cup at the weekend. Ralph Hasenhüttl is expecting to face a much changed side this evening, while he'll be without regular full-back pairing Ryan Bertrand and Kyle Walker-Peters. Kick-off tonight is 8:15pm GMT!
16.37SOU vs ARS Line Ups
Southampton
| 1 |
Alex McCarthy (GK)
|
|---|---|
| 5 |
Jack Stephens
|
| 29 |
Jake Vokins
Nathan Redmond (66′)
|
| 18 |
Yan Valery
|
| 35 |
Jan Bednarek
|
| 27 |
Ibrahima Diallo
|
| 32 |
Theo Walcott
Daniel N'Lundulu (74′)
|
| 17 |
Stuart Armstrong
|
| 8 |
James Ward-Prowse (C)
|
| 9 |
Danny Ings
Caleb Watts (74′)
|
| 10 |
Che Adams
|
Substitutes
| 40 |
Daniel N'Lundulu |
|---|---|
| 72 |
Kgaogelo Chauke |
| 65 |
Caleb Watts |
| 47 |
Will Ferry |
| 64 |
Alexandre Jankewitz |
| 44 |
Fraser Forster |
| 7 |
Shane Long |
| 31 |
Kayne Ramsay |
| 11 |
Nathan Redmond |
Arsenal
| 1 |
Bernd Leno (GK)
|
|---|---|
| 16 |
Rob Holding
|
| 23 |
David Luiz
|
| 17 |
Cédric Soares
|
| 2 |
Héctor Bellerín (C)
|
| 34 |
Granit Xhaka
|
| 19 |
Nicolas Pépé
Joseph Willock (92′)
|
| 18 |
Thomas Partey
Mohamed Elneny (78′)
|
| 32 |
Emile Smith Rowe
Willian (72′)
|
| 7 |
Bukayo Saka
|
| 9 |
Alexandre Lacazette
|
Substitutes
| 21 |
Calum Chambers |
|---|---|
| 6 |
Gabriel Magalhães |
| 30 |
Eddie Nketiah |
| 25 |
Mohamed Elneny |
| 33 |
Mat Ryan |
| 12 |
Willian |
| 15 |
Ainsley Maitland-Niles |
| 35 |
Gabriel Martinelli |
| 28 |
Joseph Willock |
SOU vs ARS Match Stats
Head to Head Stats
-
Possession (%)5842
-
Shots139
-
Shots on target55
-
Corners45
-
Passes Complete421273
