Arsenal Comeback Downs Southampton at St Mary’s

Goals from Nicolas Pepe, Bukayo Saka and Alexandre Lacazette saw Arsenal seal a 3-1 comeback win at Southampton on Tuesday night.

Stuart Armstrong volleyed Ralph Hasenhuttl’s Saints ahead after just three minutes at St Mary’s, but Pepe equalised five minutes later, Saka struck before half-time and Lacazette scored after the break to complete the turnaround and secure a key Premier League victory for Mikel Arteta.

The game started at a blistering pace: Alex McCarthy made a fine one-on-one save to deny Lacazette in the first minute, and Saints made the Gunners pay right away as Armstrong finished well off a James Ward-Prowse corner after three minutes.

Arsenal did not dwell on those early setbacks though, and Pepe pulled the visitors level with a clinical effort off a defence-splitting pass from Granit Xhaka five minutes later.

The pace was unrelenting as both sides had chances, but it was Arsenal who went ahead six minutes before half-time. Lacazette made amends for his early miss by slotting Saka through, and it was McCarthy’s turn to make an error – he raced out of his box but failed to close down Saka, who rounded the ‘keeper and tucked the ball into an empty net.

Southampton looked for a route back into the game, but Arsenal struck after Emile Smith Rowe departing with an injury. The impressive Cedric Soares played a great cross-field ball to Saka, whose pinpoint cross was turned in from close range by Lacazette.

The victory sends Arsenal eighth – for the time being, at least – and will give the Gunners hope that European football, and potentiall even Champions League qualification, is not yet beyond them this season.

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