The game was of course full of positives. Francis Coquelin came in for the injured Abou Diaby and played well, whilst Gervinho and Podolski were at their best. Many would have thought this would have been the perfect game for Olivier Giroud to score his first goal in Arsenal colours. However he was dropped to the bench for the game but later came on and failed to find the net. Perhaps saving his first goal for against his old club Montpellier? The Gunners meet the French side in the Champions League on Tuesday. There was a negative though. Southampton's goal, the first one that Arsene Wenger's men had conceded this season. Szczesny returned from injury and made a mistake as he came in for Mannone. It was a mistake which new assistant manager Steve Bould would probably have been tearing his hair out at having improved the Gunners defence.
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| Gerinvho was at his best as he scored 2 goals in the thrashing of Southampton |
Just 10 minutes into the game Arsenal were ahead. Podolski slipped the ball into the path of Gibbs who fired the ball across goal and it was bundled into his own net by Hooiveld.
The Gunners then almost found the net through Per Mertesacker as the ball was clipped into the German but Davis made an easy save.
Kieran Gibbs then had another chance to set up a goal. He got the ball out wide on the left and delivered a ball onto the head of Gervinho but he headed wide.
Half an hour into the game and Arsenal were 2-0 up through a brilliant free-kick from Lukas Podolski. The German managed to curl the ball over the wall and past Davis into the back of the net for his second goal in Arsenal colours.
Four minutes later, it was 3-0. Arteta played the ball in behind the Southampton defence and Gervinho got into the penalty area before smashing the ball inside the near post to extend the lead.
It was now turning into a riot as Kieran Gibbs hit a shot which was going wide but the ball hit Clyne and then flew into the net for yet another Arsenal goal.
Just before the break the visitors grabbed themselves a goal. Puncheon's ball in was spilt by Szczesny straight into the path of Fox who smashed the ball home.
The score at half time was 4-1 to Arsenal.
Ten minutes into the second half Southampton had a great chance to get their second of the game. Ramirez managed to find Lambert who from 8 yards out slid the ball wide.
The game had quietened down in the second half but that didn't stop Arsenal from grabbing a fifth. Aaron Ramsey got past Clyne before getting into the area and hitting a shot which came back off the post and fell to Gervinho who tapped the ball home for his second of the game.
Ex-Southampton player Oxlade-Chamberlain then tested Davis with a powerful shot from
just inside the area but the keeper managed to parm the ball away.
Three minutes from time Arsenal finished the rout and added a sixth goal. Vermaelen's shot was beaten away straight to Cazorla who found Walcott who slotted the ball home for a goal against his old club.
Southampton then almost did find a second consolation goal as Puncheon did well to get the better of Gibbs before hitting a shot which Szczesny kept out well.
The final score finished Arsenal 6-1 Southampton
The teams lineups:
Arsenal: Szczesny, Jenkinson, Mertesacker, Vermaelen, Gibbs, Coquelin(67), Arteta, Cazorla, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Podolski(75), Gervinho(74).
Subs: Mannone, Koscielny, Santos, Ramsey(67), Arshavin, Walcott(74), Giroud(75).
Southampton: Davies, Clyne, Hooiveld(29), Fonte, Fox, Schneiderlin, Ward-Prowse, Davis((46), Puncheon, Lallana, Lambert(76).
Subs: Gazzaniga, Yoshida(29), Richardson, Chaplow, Ramirez(46), Mayuka, Rodriguez(76).
Man of the match: Gervinho
Referee: Kevin Friend
Attendance: 60,097
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