Arsenal vs. Southampton: Score, Grades and Reaction from Premier League Game
Alexis Sanchez netted a late goal to hand Arsenal a 1-0 win over Southampton on Wednesday.
Ronald Koeman’s Southampton have their own sights set on the top four and the reward of Champions League football that comes with it.
Saints looked set to claim a battling point, but Sanchez was on hand to lash home a loose ball from six yards with two minutes left on the clock.
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"Alexis Sanchez has now scored 9 goals in the Premier League this season, all from inside the box. #AFC pic.twitter.com/BGjYiEdO9I
— Squawka Football (@Squawka) December 3, 2014"
Arsenal are now two points behind fourth-placed Manchester United and a positive run of results—this is their third on the spin in all competitions—will keep them firmly in the mix ahead of the busy festive period.
Southampton have lost two on the spin, but they were not disgraced in either and remain in the Champions League places. If Koeman’s side continue to perform like this, they will be bidding for a place in the top four at the end of the season.
The Gunners possess oodles of pace in their ranks and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is one of the most fleet of foot. He set Southampton back-peddling on four minutes with a driving run towards the box, but he lost possession when looking set to shoot.
The injury to Jack Wilshere has handed Santi Cazorla an opportunity, and he showed his class on seven minutes with a glorious pass that sent Danny Welbeck clear. The forward burst into the box, but the giant figure of Saints keeper Fraser Forster narrowed the angle and Welbeck could only shoot into the side netting.
Southampton wasted a massive chance on 14 minutes. Graziano Pelle exchanged passes with Steven Davis on the edge of the box. He was faced with only Arsenal 'keeper Emiliano Martinez, but he hit his shot like a forward who had gone four Premier League games without a goal as he blazed his effort over the top.
"Great chance for Pelle - normally reliable but blazed well over the top.
— Phil McNulty (@philmcnulty) December 3, 2014"
Arsenal struggled to impose themselves on the game, with passes going astray, and the Emirates crowd grew increasingly frustrated.
The frustration almost turned to consternation a minute before the break. Alexis Sanchez was outmuscled on the halfway line by Victor Wanyama who played the ball into the path of Pelle. The Italian lashed a shot on goal, but a deflection from Laurent Koscielny took the pace off the ball and allowed Martinez to make the save.
While Martinez’s save was routine, at the other end a stop from Forster was anything but. Cazorla fizzed in a dangerous free-kick that Welbeck rose to head. His effort flicked off Toby Alderweireld, and Forster reacted superbly to tip the ball over the bar.
Southampton showed they too have pace to burn, with a quicksilver break from inside their own box. One-touch passes from Pelle, Alderweireld and Wanyama set Shane Long clear. He had support from Pelle at the back post, but took the more difficult option of shooting from a tight angle, and he smashed his effort high and wide.
Arsene Wenger threw on Olivier Giroud with 25 minutes remaining and Arsenal looked a more dynamic outfit going forward as a result.
Giroud hit a stinging drive that forced Forster to fist the ball away, while on 70 minutes he teed up Welbeck who forced a fabulous diving save from the Southampton keeper.
Forster produced an even better save to claw out a looping header from Giroud, but he could do nothing to thwart Sanchez. With Saints a man down due to an injury to Alderweireld, Arsenal laid siege to their area and a loose ball fell at the feet of Sanchez and he stroked the ball home to seal the three points.
Notable Player Grades
Danny Welbeck: B-
Again was bright and always went in search of the ball, but things just did not work for him in the opposition box.
Aaron Ramsey: D
Is struggling to recapture his best form and this was another frustrating day. Too often he gave the ball away and his decision-making was questionable at times.
Laurent Koscielny: B+
The Frenchman is feeling his way back to full fitness, but Arsenal look a far better side with him at the back.
Nacho Monreal: B
Was a willing attacker down the left side, while he also looked solid in his duties at the back.
Graziano Pelle: B
The Southampton striker missed one big chance, but he produced a superb performance for his side. He was forced to feed off scraps, but he kept the Arsenal defenders extremely honest.
Fraser Forster: A
A quite superb display from the keeper who made a series of fine saves and did not deserve to be on the losing side. Joe Hart may be the England No. 1, but in Forster, Roy Hodgson has a ready-made replacement.
Reaction:
Aaron Ramsey was impressed with the fighting spirit of Sanchez and the team.
Speaking to BT Sport, the Arsenal midfielder said: “He never gives up and was in the right place at the right time again.
“We never go into games wanting to draw, we always want to win. It took until the latter stages of the game, (but we) kept playing, kept believing and it paid off.”
