Premier League
ArsenalArsenal2SouthamptonSouthampton1

Arsenal 2-1 Southampton

By Chris BevanBBC Sport
Laurent Koscielny scores for Arsenal
Laurent Koscielny scored Arsenal's equaliser with his first goal of the season

Santi Cazorla's stoppage-time penalty gave Arsenal a dramatic victory over a determined Southampton side.

Saints took the lead when Petr Cech tipped a Dusan Tadic free-kick onto the underside of the bar but the ball bounced in off the Gunners keeper.

Laurent Koscielny equalised with a spectacular overhead kick after Cazorla's corner was not cleared.

The hosts toiled in attack but Cazorla won it for them after Jose Fonte was judged to have fouled Olivier Giroud.

Wenger relieved after Cazorla's late goal

The result was harsh on Southampton, who were well-organised at the back and dangerous when they broke forward.

Saints remain winless under new manager Claude Puel, while Arsenal are five points behind Premier League leaders Manchester City, who beat Manchester United earlier on Saturday.

How did Arsenal's new boys do?

Shkodran Mustafi (left) and Lucas Perez (right) touches for Arsenal against Southampton
Mustafi's touch map (left) shows how many times the centre-back was on the ball in the Southampton half, while Perez (right) was a largely peripheral figure with 31 touches. Of the Arsenal players to start the game, only Theo Walcott (27) touched the ball less.

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger gave debuts to both his recent signings, £35m centre-back Shkodran Mustafi and £17m forward Lucas Perez.

A World Cup winner with Germany, Mustafi instantly looked comfortable in his new surroundings, having more touches (94) and playing more passes (86) than anyone else on the pitch, frequently stepping up into the Saints half when he was on the ball.

But Spaniard Perez had a much quieter debut, failing to have a shot of any kind in the first half. His only effort at goal after the break was blocked and he was taken off after 63 mostly ineffective minutes.

Wenger threw on Giroud, Alexis Sanchez and, eventually, Alex Iwobu too, but his side continued to struggle in front of goal until Fonte tangled with France striker Giroud and referee Robert Madley pointed to the spot.

Saints unlucky to leave empty-handed

Claude Puel rues missed chances to see off Arsenal

Southampton are in the bottom three after failing to win any of their first four games of the season, but they were unfortunate not to pick up at least a point in north London.

Shane Long was left on the bench until half-time but had three good chances in the second half.

Long wasted his best chance when he fired well wide after Tadic's superb flick had left him with only Cech to beat.

The Republic of Ireland striker also headed over the bar when unmarked from a free-kick and did not get enough on his follow-up shot after Cech had parried a Pierre Hojberg strike.

Man of the match - Arsenal's Santi Cazorla

Santi Cazorla scores for Arsenal
The Arsenal fans were singing Santi Cazorla's name long before he stepped up to score the winning penalty. The Spaniard had always looked the most likely to unlock Southampton's resolute defence although, in truth, there was not much competition.

What next?

Arsenal begin their Champions League campaign on Tuesday (19:45 BST kick-off), with a trip to play French champions Paris St-Germain, before another away game, at Hull, in the Premier League next Saturday (15:00 BST).

Southampton are also on European duty, at home to Sparta Prague in the Europa League on Thursday (20:05 BST), before they host Swansea on Sunday (14:15 BST).

The stats you need to know

  • Arsenal scored with both of their shots on target in this match, from 17 shots in total.
  • Arsenal are unbeaten in their past 22 home league games against Southampton (W16 D6).
  • The Gunners have already won more Premier League penalties in 2016-17 (three) than they did in the whole of 2015-16 (two).
  • Koscielny became the fifth Arsenal player to score a Premier League goal on their birthday (after Paul Merson, Robert Pires, Yossi Benayoun and Cazorla).
  • Saints scored their first Premier League goal at the Emirates since a 1-6 defeat in September 2012.
  • Cech scored his second Premier League own goal, and first since December 2009 (for Chelsea against Everton).
  • Cazorla's past seven Premier League goals for Arsenal have been penalties.

Line-ups

Arsenal

Formation 4-2-3-1

  • 33Cech
  • 24Bellerín
  • 20Mustafi
  • 6Koscielny
  • 18Monreal ErasoBooked at 16mins
  • 19Cazorla GonzálezBooked at 26mins
  • 34Coquelin
  • 14WalcottSubstituted forIwobiat 75'minutes
  • 11Özil
  • 15Oxlade-ChamberlainSubstituted forSánchezat 62'minutes
  • 9PérezSubstituted forGiroudat 62'minutes

Substitutes

  • 7Sánchez
  • 12Giroud
  • 13Ospina
  • 16Holding
  • 17Iwobi
  • 29Xhaka
  • 35Elneny

Southampton

Formation 4-3-3

  • 1ForsterBooked at 54mins
  • 2Cédric Soares
  • 6José FonteBooked at 90mins
  • 17van DijkBooked at 90mins
  • 21BertrandBooked at 90mins
  • 4ClasieSubstituted forHøjbjergat 64'minutesBooked at 86mins
  • 14Romeu
  • 8Davis
  • 11TadicSubstituted forWard-Prowseat 80'minutes
  • 9RodríguezSubstituted forLongat 45'minutes
  • 22Redmond

Substitutes

  • 3Yoshida
  • 7Long
  • 10Austin
  • 13McCarthy
  • 16Ward-Prowse
  • 23Højbjerg
  • 33Targett
Referee:
Robert Madley
Attendance:
59,962

Match Stats

Home TeamArsenalAway TeamSouthampton
Possession
Home57%
Away43%
Shots
Home17
Away11
Shots on Target
Home2
Away5
Corners
Home6
Away1
Fouls
Home10
Away8

Live Text

  1. Post update

    Match ends, Arsenal 2, Southampton 1.

  2. Full Time

    Second Half ends, Arsenal 2, Southampton 1.

  3. Post update

    Attempt saved. Shane Long (Southampton) header from the left side of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Cédric Soares with a cross.

  4. Goal!

    Goal! Arsenal 2, Southampton 1. Santiago Cazorla (Arsenal) converts the penalty with a right footed shot to the centre of the goal.

  5. Booking

    Ryan Bertrand (Southampton) is shown the yellow card.

  6. Booking

    Virgil van Dijk (Southampton) is shown the yellow card.

  7. Post update

    Delay over. They are ready to continue.

  8. Post update

    Delay in match Laurent Koscielny (Arsenal) because of an injury.

  9. Booking

    José Fonte (Southampton) is shown the yellow card.

  10. Post update

    Penalty Arsenal. Olivier Giroud draws a foul in the penalty area.

  11. Post update

    Penalty conceded by José Fonte (Southampton) after a foul in the penalty area.

  12. Post update

    Attempt blocked. Shkodran Mustafi (Arsenal) header from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Mesut Özil with a cross.

  13. Post update

    Corner, Arsenal. Conceded by Cédric Soares.

  14. Post update

    Foul by Alexis Sánchez (Arsenal).

  15. Post update

    Oriol Romeu (Southampton) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  16. Booking

    Pierre-Emile Højbjerg (Southampton) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.

  17. Post update

    Alex Iwobi (Arsenal) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

  18. Post update

    Foul by Pierre-Emile Højbjerg (Southampton).

  19. Post update

    Attempt missed. Olivier Giroud (Arsenal) header from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the left. Assisted by Santiago Cazorla.

  20. Post update

    Francis Coquelin (Arsenal) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

As It Stood

TeamPWDLFAGDPts
1Man City4400114712
2Chelsea33007259
3Man Utd43017349
4Tottenham42207258
5Liverpool42119727
6Arsenal42118627
7Hull42115327
8Everton32104227
9Middlesbrough41214405
10Watford411278-14
11Crystal Palace411234-14
12West Brom411223-14
13Bournemouth411235-24
14Burnley411235-24
15Leicester411247-34
16Swansea310224-23
17West Ham410359-43
18Southampton402236-32
19Sunderland301235-21
20Stoke4013210-81
View full Premier League table

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