December 11, (THEWILL) – Arsenal bounced back from back-to-back Premier League defeats to a convincing 3-0 win over Southampton at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday evening.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, who had gone six league matches without scoring for the first time since 2014, was omitted from the Arsenal team due to a disciplinary issue, and Alexandre Lacazette started in his place.
The visitors got off to a better start than the hosts, with Nathan Tella going close on the outskirts of the penalty box after eluding Takehiro Tomiyasu’s attentions.
Again, after receiving a pass inside from Kyle Walker-Peters and unleashing an effort into the bottom corner, Adam Armstrong forced a fantastic save from Aaron Ramsdale from a similar position.
After those earlier threats, Arsenal sliced through Southampton with sweeping perfection just as the Emirates Stadium crowd began to express their displeasure.
Bukayo Saka was unleashed down the right flank by a beautiful back-to-front move, and when the England international dragged the ball across goal, Alexandre Lacazette was there ready to guide the ball past Willy Caballero, on his debut.
Mikel Arteta’s team had extended their lead after only five minutes. After failing to divert the ball back across goal on two occasions, Tomiyasu fired a deep cross towards Kierney in space at the back post, and his header into the six yard box was met by Martin Odegaard stealing in at the front post to direct the ball to net.
The hosts were buzzing because soon after, they very nearly tripled their lead. Lacazette was let through the Saints’ backline, but he outpaced Saka, who then forced Caballero into action after he was set free by a superb backheel from Odegaard six minutes before the interval.
After the break, Arsenal continued to lay siege to Southampton, threatening on the break when Odegaard blasted home from a Saka lay-off.
Gabriel then bundled the ball in from a corner at the back post and the Gunners felt they had sealed all three points, but the linesman raised his flag and VAR determined the Brazilian had moved into an offside position prior to the goal.
Undeterred, Gabriel pushed forward and three minutes later, his persistence was rewarded when he rose highest from a Saka corner to give Arsenal a 3-0 lead.
Arteta’s team kept pushing forward in their most dangerous offensive effort of the season. After a beautiful one-two with Thomas Partey, Gabriel Martinelli curled an effort just wide of the post, and Saka followed suit from the opposite wing.
Southampton posed a threat through Tella on a few of occasions, but Arsenal were comfortable in the end. Southampton will have little time to ponder on their disappointing loss as they prepare to travel to Crystal Palace on Wednesday night, while Arsenal will attempt to reclaim the momentum they have lost in recent weeks by winning what is expected to be a tightly contested London derby against West Ham.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
