Arsenal: Cech; Bellerin, Mustafi, Koscielny, Monreal; Cazorla, Coquelin; Walcott, Ozil, Oxlade-Chamberlain; Perez. Subs: Ospina, Holding, Elneny, Xhaka, Iwobi, Alexis, Giroud
Southampton: Forster; Cedric, Fonte, Van Dijk, Bertrand; Clasie, Romeu, Davis; Tadic; Redmond, Rodriguez. Subs: McCarthy, Yoshida, Long, Austin, Ward-Prowse, Hojbjerg, Targett
FULL-TIME: ARSENAL 2-1 SOUTHAMPTON
A curling cross comes in from the right wing and finds Long at the far post, but with the final chance of the game the striker sends a tame header down into the ground and straight to Cech. That is surely that for Arsenal, who are set to leave with the narrowest of victories.
It's all Southampton at the moment as they push everyone forward. They're desperately trying to find a way back into the game and have put both Van Dijk and Fonte up front as they try to find a late goal, but Arsenal are just about managing to hold on to their slender lead.
Arsenal leave it late to score in injury-time.
Santi Cazorla sent Forster the wrong way to score from the penalty spot.
Should it have been a penalty? Shane Long was fouled by Nacho Monreal in the build-up to Arsenal’s spot kick.
Jose Fonte looked like he was pulling Olivier Giroud’s shirt in the penalty box, but they were both at it. Referee Bobby Madley pointed to the spot and Santi rattled it home. Arsenal take home all three points.
There's a long break in play as Koscielny receives medical treatment in the middle of the penalty area. The centre-back received a painful kick to the face in the build-up to the penalty and looks to have received a nasty black eye as a result.
GOAL! After waiting for three minutes to take the penalty, Cazorla steps up and rifles a wonderful low strike down the middle of the goal and into the back of the net to surely steal all three points for Arsenal.
Penalty Goal Santiago Cazorla González
Yellow card Virgil van Dijk
PENALTY! The ball is flung back into the heart of the Southampton penalty area, where Giroud and Fonte tangle whilst battling for the ball. The striker goes down under a challenge from the defender and immediately appeals for a penalty, and the referee stuns the visitors by pointing straight to the spot.
Southampton just about hang on! Arsenal win themselves a corner that results in Cazorla flying into the left-hand side of the box on a great run. He then fires a low cross into the middle of the penalty area that pinballs around before the visitors are just about able to clear the danger. Arsenal just can't seem to score no matter what they do!
The fourth official has indicated that there will be four minutes of added time.
Cazorla breaks forward on another wonderful run as Arsenal desperately try to find a late winner. He then chips a great lofted pass into the middle of the penalty area and towards Giroud, but, not for the first time today, Van Dijk is there to cut out the danger at the vital moment.
Arsenal’s defence owe their goalkeeper a big thank you.
They stood off as Pierre-Emile Højbjerg shot from distance and it took a great save from Petr Cech to beat it out before he quickly got to his feet to save from Shane Long who pounced on the rebound.
Cech has more than made up for the own goal.
Hojbjerg tangles with Iwobi just outside of the Arsenal penalty area and kicks out as he tries to win back the ball, and the referee immediately shows him a yellow card.
Giroud hits the side-netting! Cazorla speeds down the left wing before chipping a beautiful cross towards the near post, where it finds Giroud, but the big striker is unable to beat Forster with his header and instead sends it flying just past the goal.
Southampton are enjoying a good period of play at the moment, and it's now they who are on the front foot as we enter the final five minutes of the game. Redmond breaks through the Arsenal defence and looks set to penetrate the box, but Monreal is there to stop him from doing so with a smart and well-timed tackle.
What an opportunity for Long! Hojbjerg is left in a pocket of space just outside of the Arsenal penalty area and quickly unleashes a low shot that Cech can only push into the path of Long. The striker has a great opportunity to fire in what would surely be the winning goal, but he's unable to beat Cech, who does well to stick out a foot to deflect the Irishman's shot out for a corner.
Ward-Prowse immediately charges into the back of Sanchez and sends the Chilean crashing to the ground, resulting in a free-kick for Arsenal in an excellent position just outside of the penalty area. Cazorla steps up and curls a cross towards the far post, but it's sent too close to Forster and is easily stopped by the goalkeeper.
Southampton have made a late change, with Tadic making way for Ward-Prowse.
Chance for Monreal! Iwobi cuts inside from the right wing on a wonderful run before setting up Monreal, but the full-back's side-footed effort from the edge of the box deflects off the foot of Cedric and out for another corner. Arsenal are getting closer...
The resulting set-piece is swung into the heart of the penalty area and finds Giroud, who does well to rise high above his marker, but the Frenchman is unable to send his headed effort towards goal and has to watch it sail comfortably over the top of the crossbar.
No comments:
Post a Comment