Arsenal 6 - 1 Southampton

 

By Nick Lander

 

A dominant Arsenal swept aside Southampton in their first visit to the Emirates. With four Arsenal goals in the first 40 minutes, the game was over as a contest in the first half, the Saints never really looked like scoring, until a Szczesney mistake gifted them a goal on the stroke of half time.

 

In an experimental line-up, Arsene Wenger opted to have winger Gervinho lead the line, a bold decision given the Ivorian's poor form in front of goal in the past. Olivier Giroud dropped to the bench, and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain was again preferred to Theo Walcott, who missed England's draw with Ukraine in mid-week with a virus.

 

The Gunners got of to bright start, scoring after just 11 minutes, when Kieran Gibbs' cross was turned into his own net by Jos Hooiveld, after it went straight through goalkeeper Kelvin Davis, who was unconvincing all game.

 

The Saints managed to hold out for 20 minutes before Arsenal got their third though, when Lukas Podolski bagged his second goal in two games, with a pinpoint free-kick from 25 yards, after Francis Coquelin was brought down.

 

On 35 minutes, Arsenal got their fourth. The influential Mikel Arteta played a delightful lobbed pass over the defence for Gervinho to run onto and fire home first time. Beating Davis at his near post. The Saints' stopper could have done better.

 

Gibbs' day got still better, as he had another cross turned into the Southampton net, this time Nathaniel Clyne was the player unfortunate enough to have those embarrassing letters 'OG' appear next to his name.

 

Arsenal were cruising, and should have gone into the break four goal to the good, but a Szczesney mistake gifted Danny Fox an opportunity as easy as he will ever have, which he eased into the net. The Arsenal goalie had come for a cross, but dropped it right onto Fox's foot, after he collided with, blameless, Carl Jenkinson.

 

Arsenal came out after the break with their foot off the gas, but in truth, Southampton offered little more than they had in the first half, although Rickie Lambert fired just wide of the post soon after the restart.

 

Arsenal's work rate had dropped, and the introduction of Aaron Ramsey shortly after the hour mark, put a bit more running into the Gunners' midfield. The young Welshman came close to scoring, brilliantly flicking the ball beyond Clyne before poking the ball around Davis, only for it to hit the far post. Arsenal were not to be denied though, as Gervinho was their to add his second, bundling the ball home.

 

Giroud and Walcott were introduced late on, and the latter added Arsenal's sixth as he swept the ball home, after Davis parried captain Thomas Vermaelen's rasping drive. His first time playing against his old club, Walcott did not really celebrate, choosing just to applaud the Arsenal cheers.

 

The Gunners desperately strove to add a seventh, and to create an opportunity for Olivier Giroud to get his first goal for the club, but nothing quite came off, the game ending 6-1 to Arsenal, who climb to third in the table.

 

Southampton old boys Walcott and Chamberlain showed a touch of class at final whistle, making their way over to the travelling fans to applaud, a gesture which was warmly received.

 

Stat of the Match: Lukas Podolski completed 100% of his 31 passes in the game, as well as scoring his free-kick.

 

Arsenal Player Ratings: Szczesney 4, Jenkinson 7, Mertesacker 7, Vermaelen 7, Gibbs 9, Coquelin 6 (Ramsey 7), Arteta 8, Cazorla 8, Oxlade-Chamberlain 7, Podolski 8 (Giroud 6), Gervinho 8 (Walcott 7)

 

My man of the match was Kieran Gibbs (left), the full back has come in for some stick in the past, but today he was outstanding. He defended well, and attacked even better, the two own goals from his crosses were deserved. Andre Santos will be lucky to oust him from the team on current form - despite his crossbar challenge success pre-match, in what is now a traditional end-of-warm-up competition between him and Chambelain!

 

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