Southampton produced a much better performance against a heavily changed Arsenal side but couldn’t pick up any points and remain in the relegation zone.
Southampton reverted to a three-back system, bringing in Maya Yoshida alongside Jack Stephens and Wesley Hoedt. Oriol Romeu and James Ward-Prowse were brought into the midfield and Shane Long started upfront.
Despite Arsenal’s early dominance of possession of the ball, it was Southampton who took the lead through Long in the 17th minute. Cedric delivered a low cross and a lack of communication between Shkodran Mustafi and Petr Cech allowed Long to capitalise and get in front of the German defender and prod the ball into the back of the net.
Just 10 minutes later though Arsenal were level through the man in form, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. The ball was fed into Alex Iwobi, who flicked it into the path of the Gabonese striker, who bundled the ball past Alex McCarthy.
Just moments later Southampton found themselves 2-1 down after Danny Welbeck managed to drive towards the Saints defence and his shot took a heavy deflection off Yoshida, which took the ball away from McCarthy.
In the second half, McCarthy kept Saints in the game with a couple of stunning saves from shots from Aubameyang and Granit Xhaka.
Saints were still testing the Arsenal goal as Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg had a long shot attempt saved by Cech and Hoedt had his header from Ward-Prowse’s corner was saved off the line by Mohamed Elneny.
In the 72nd minute, Charlie Austin was brought on to replace Yoshida, and two minutes later he came up with Southampton’s equaliser. Some great work between Cedric and Hojbjerg allowed the Portuguese defender to deliver a low cross across the six-yard box and Austin was on hand with a typical poacher’s goal.
Six minutes later, Arsenal had a huge opportunity to take the lead again through Welbeck, as Jack Wilshere headed the ball across the box to Welbeck who had an open goal to aim at, but his shot went wide of the goal.
Arsenal were ahead two minutes later through Welbeck who was on hand at the far post to bundle the ball into the net.
There was late drama as Stephens was sent off for reacting aggressively to Wilshere literally pulling and tearing the defender’s shirt off. Elneny was also sent off for Arsenal in the latter stages of the game.
Saints are still in the relegation zone but do have a game in hand and with crucial games against the likes of Swansea, Everton, Leicester and Swansea coming up, fans and Mark Hughes will be slightly encouraged by what he saw on the pitch.
