Arsenal V Southampton Match Report by Jonathan Creedy
Arsenal went five points clear at the top of the Premiership after a hard-fought 2-0 win over an unfortunate Southampton side. Thierry Henry not only extended his Premiership scoring streak to five games, but also notched his 100th and 101st league goals for the Gunners. The result was tainted by controversy however, as both Arsenal goals left the South coast club ruing the referee’s decisions.
This was, by no means, a vintage Arsenal performance. Southampton really made Arsenal work for the three points last night, as they proved a more than difficult proposition. Gordon Strachan, in his 3 years at the club, has put together a well-drilled and hard-working side, who are no longer a soft touch. Throughout the first half, Southampton maintained a rigid 4-4-2 formation, allowing Arsenal no time whatsoever on the ball. The visitor’s midfield of Telfer, Delap, Svensson (soon replaced by Baird) and Le Saux pressurised so well that the majority of Arsenal’s possession was restricted to their own half. When Arsenal did manage to break through the Southampton midfield, they seemed to be missing the threat of Ljungberg and Bergkamp.
The game started promisingly for the home side as Robert Pires had two good chances in the opening five minutes. On both occasions, Antti Niemi saved comfortably. For the next twenty minutes, Southampton dominated, although Arsenal enjoyed the lion’s share of possession. After Brett Ormerod had a penalty appeal turned down, Southampton threatened the Arsenal goal with four successive corners. In the 22 minute, Graeme Le Saux fired wide from the edge of the area.
Then, 25 minutes into the game, Thierry Henry started to exert his influence on the game. First, he flicked the ball up and volleyed over the bar from distance. Then, he made a dangerous run into the Southampton half, but his cross found no-one. In the 31st minute, Lauren gave the ball away in his own half. Gilberto was quick to retrieve possession and he quickly fed Pires, as Arsenal broke at speed. As Henry curved his run to the left, Pires put the ball right into his path. He skipped past the challenge of a despairing Southampton defender, and although it seemed as though he had taken the ball too far, he slipped the ball under Niemi with his left foot. Arsenal had taken the lead, against the run of play and perhaps undeservingly, but they say that makes a champion.
In the remainder of the first half, Vieira was booked for a late challenge on Anders Svensson, having miscontrolled the ball himself. In fact, the Arsenal captain was strangely out of sorts in the first period. On 42 minutes, Graeme Le Saux, one of Southampton’s more influential and distinguished players, again shot wide. Arsenal could have increased their lead on the stroke of half-time when Pires put Reyes through on goal, but the young Spaniard dragged his shot just wide.
In the opening exchanges of the second half, Southampton looked dangerous. Jens Lehmann kept Arsenal ahead with a fantastic save from Brett Ormerod after a comedy of errors in and around the Arsenal area. Just after that, the German stopper made another smart save to his left. After 59 minutes, Jose Reyes came inches away from claiming his first Arsenal goal. Henry raced down the left and crossed low into the six-yard box, but the ball just evaded Reyes’ outstretched leg. Henry did the same again 5 minutes later, but once again, his cut-back found no-one.
In the last 20 minutes, Southampton threw on both Beattie and Pahars to play 4 men up front. This looked ominous for Arsenal as Southampton started to apply a bit more pressure on the Arsenal goal. Brett Ormerod shot wide, before the visitors won a number of corners and long throw-ins deep in the Arsenal half. Arsenal defended resolutely though and managed to stem the flow of Southampton pressure. In the 90th minute, Pires found himself free on the right, crossed low to Gilberto, who miskicked. The ball fell to Thierry Henry, who took the ball onto his right foot and placed the ball majestically into the top right corner of the goal.
This was never going to be an easy game, and Patrick Vieira said as much in his programme notes. Southampton can count themselves somewhat unfortunate as, on this occasion, the incompetence of the officials benefited Arsenal. Henry did look marginally offside for the first goal, and replays reveal that Southampton might well have had a free kick in the build-up to the second goal. Nevertheless, you can’t argue with the result. Arsenal kept another clean sheet and picked up their 5 successive league win to put the pressure on Manchester United and Chelsea tonight.
We are now at the business end of the season where every point is crucial. The team’s resilience and the squad’s depth will be tested in the coming weeks by a several difficult fixtures, but if Arsenal can retain their current momentum, it seems likely that they can overcome these obstacles. The return of key players such as Bergkamp and Ljungberg plus Kanu and Aliadiere will be vital, but at the moment, Arsenal appear to be grinding out results week-in, week-out. Long may this continue.
Arsenal went five points clear at the top of the Premiership after a hard-fought 2-0 win over an unfortunate Southampton side. Thierry Henry not only extended his Premiership scoring streak to five games, but also notched his 100th and 101st league goals for the Gunners. The result was tainted by controversy however, as both Arsenal goals left the South coast club ruing the referee’s decisions.
This was, by no means, a vintage Arsenal performance. Southampton really made Arsenal work for the three points last night, as they proved a more than difficult proposition. Gordon Strachan, in his 3 years at the club, has put together a well-drilled and hard-working side, who are no longer a soft touch. Throughout the first half, Southampton maintained a rigid 4-4-2 formation, allowing Arsenal no time whatsoever on the ball. The visitor’s midfield of Telfer, Delap, Svensson (soon replaced by Baird) and Le Saux pressurised so well that the majority of Arsenal’s possession was restricted to their own half. When Arsenal did manage to break through the Southampton midfield, they seemed to be missing the threat of Ljungberg and Bergkamp.
The game started promisingly for the home side as Robert Pires had two good chances in the opening five minutes. On both occasions, Antti Niemi saved comfortably. For the next twenty minutes, Southampton dominated, although Arsenal enjoyed the lion’s share of possession. After Brett Ormerod had a penalty appeal turned down, Southampton threatened the Arsenal goal with four successive corners. In the 22 minute, Graeme Le Saux fired wide from the edge of the area.
Then, 25 minutes into the game, Thierry Henry started to exert his influence on the game. First, he flicked the ball up and volleyed over the bar from distance. Then, he made a dangerous run into the Southampton half, but his cross found no-one. In the 31st minute, Lauren gave the ball away in his own half. Gilberto was quick to retrieve possession and he quickly fed Pires, as Arsenal broke at speed. As Henry curved his run to the left, Pires put the ball right into his path. He skipped past the challenge of a despairing Southampton defender, and although it seemed as though he had taken the ball too far, he slipped the ball under Niemi with his left foot. Arsenal had taken the lead, against the run of play and perhaps undeservingly, but they say that makes a champion.
In the remainder of the first half, Vieira was booked for a late challenge on Anders Svensson, having miscontrolled the ball himself. In fact, the Arsenal captain was strangely out of sorts in the first period. On 42 minutes, Graeme Le Saux, one of Southampton’s more influential and distinguished players, again shot wide. Arsenal could have increased their lead on the stroke of half-time when Pires put Reyes through on goal, but the young Spaniard dragged his shot just wide.
In the opening exchanges of the second half, Southampton looked dangerous. Jens Lehmann kept Arsenal ahead with a fantastic save from Brett Ormerod after a comedy of errors in and around the Arsenal area. Just after that, the German stopper made another smart save to his left. After 59 minutes, Jose Reyes came inches away from claiming his first Arsenal goal. Henry raced down the left and crossed low into the six-yard box, but the ball just evaded Reyes’ outstretched leg. Henry did the same again 5 minutes later, but once again, his cut-back found no-one.
In the last 20 minutes, Southampton threw on both Beattie and Pahars to play 4 men up front. This looked ominous for Arsenal as Southampton started to apply a bit more pressure on the Arsenal goal. Brett Ormerod shot wide, before the visitors won a number of corners and long throw-ins deep in the Arsenal half. Arsenal defended resolutely though and managed to stem the flow of Southampton pressure. In the 90th minute, Pires found himself free on the right, crossed low to Gilberto, who miskicked. The ball fell to Thierry Henry, who took the ball onto his right foot and placed the ball majestically into the top right corner of the goal.
This was never going to be an easy game, and Patrick Vieira said as much in his programme notes. Southampton can count themselves somewhat unfortunate as, on this occasion, the incompetence of the officials benefited Arsenal. Henry did look marginally offside for the first goal, and replays reveal that Southampton might well have had a free kick in the build-up to the second goal. Nevertheless, you can’t argue with the result. Arsenal kept another clean sheet and picked up their 5 successive league win to put the pressure on Manchester United and Chelsea tonight.
We are now at the business end of the season where every point is crucial. The team’s resilience and the squad’s depth will be tested in the coming weeks by a several difficult fixtures, but if Arsenal can retain their current momentum, it seems likely that they can overcome these obstacles. The return of key players such as Bergkamp and Ljungberg plus Kanu and Aliadiere will be vital, but at the moment, Arsenal appear to be grinding out results week-in, week-out. Long may this continue.
