ARSENAL on track with a 2-0 win as Southampton goalkeeper Artur Boruc entered into the spirit of pantomime season at the Emirates.
Following their dispiriting defeat to Manchester United before the international break, Arsene Wenger’s Premier League leaders started brightly against their high-flying opponents, with Jack Wilshere and Aaron Ramsey both hitting the post.
They led midway through the first half when Olivier Giroud capitalised on an inexplicable error from Boruc, dispossessing the Poland international to complete a simple finish.
An impressive collective response was typical of a Southampton side who remain third in the table but Giroud completed his brace and made it 10 goals for the season from the penalty spot after Jose Fonte pulled back Per Mertesacker at an 85th-minute corner.
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Southampton were dealt a blow ahead of kick-off, which was delayed by 15 minutes due to disruption on the Piccadilly line, with news that centre-back Dejan Lovren was ruled out due to illness. Jos Hooiveld came in for his first Premier League appearance of the season.
Theo Walcott returned to the Arsenal bench following two months out with an abdominal injury, while Mertesacker was back at the heart of defence following his midweek goalscoring heroics for Germany at Wembley.
Wilshere replaced the suspended Mathieu Flamini in midfield and almost opened the scoring after 10 minutes when his deft, lofted effort bounced back off the post into Boruc’s grateful arms. The same upright was tested via Ramsey’s audacious backheel from Mesut Ozil’s cross but Boruc’s post could not save him after a moment of madness in the 22nd minute.
Upon receiving a routine backpass from Nathaniel Clyne, he loitered terribly before an embarrassing attempt to turn Giroud resulted in the France international striker stroking the ball into an unguarded net.
Southampton forced Wojciech Szczesny into his first save of the match after 32 minutes when Mikel Arteta miscued a clearance and Adam Lallana’s speculative left-footer was pushed over. The Arsenal goalkeeper then reacted superbly to thwart Jay Rodriguez’s snap shot.
Luke Shaw struggled through much of the first half with a leg problem and was replaced by Steven Davis, with James Ward-Prowse reverting to right-back and Clyne filling Southampton’s vacant left-back slot.
The reshuffle did not interrupt the visitors’ momentum as they resumed brightly and Lallana thudded a drive into Szczesny’s chest, meaning eyebrows were raised when the same player made way for Pablo Daniel Osvaldo in the 52nd minute.
Having laboured under Southampton’s trademark high press, Arsenal responded impressively and Ozil cleverly engineered space in the area to test Boruc at his near post.
Osvaldo called Szczesny into action at the end of a driving 74th minute run and his attacking colleague saw an effort deflected wide.
Walcott was afforded a rapturous reception on his introduction and might have given Arsenal breathing space when he fired wide on the break before Giroud ensured a four-point lead at the summit with his composed spot-kick.
VIDEO: Olivier Giroud strike following goalkeeping howler helps Arsenal to victory
Updated at 17.50
ARSENAL on track with a 2-0 win as Southampton goalkeeper Artur Boruc entered into the spirit of pantomime season at the Emirates.
Following their dispiriting defeat to Manchester United before the international break, Arsene Wenger’s Premier League leaders started brightly against their high-flying opponents, with Jack Wilshere and Aaron Ramsey both hitting the post.
They led midway through the first half when Olivier Giroud capitalised on an inexplicable error from Boruc, dispossessing the Poland international to complete a simple finish.
An impressive collective response was typical of a Southampton side who remain third in the table but Giroud completed his brace and made it 10 goals for the season from the penalty spot after Jose Fonte pulled back Per Mertesacker at an 85th-minute corner.
Southampton were dealt a blow ahead of kick-off, which was delayed by 15 minutes due to disruption on the Piccadilly line, with news that centre-back Dejan Lovren was ruled out due to illness. Jos Hooiveld came in for his first Premier League appearance of the season.
Theo Walcott returned to the Arsenal bench following two months out with an abdominal injury, while Mertesacker was back at the heart of defence following his midweek goalscoring heroics for Germany at Wembley.
Wilshere replaced the suspended Mathieu Flamini in midfield and almost opened the scoring after 10 minutes when his deft, lofted effort bounced back off the post into Boruc’s grateful arms. The same upright was tested via Ramsey’s audacious backheel from Mesut Ozil’s cross but Boruc’s post could not save him after a moment of madness in the 22nd minute.
Upon receiving a routine backpass from Nathaniel Clyne, he loitered terribly before an embarrassing attempt to turn Giroud resulted in the France international striker stroking the ball into an unguarded net.
The reshuffle did not interrupt the visitors’ momentum as they resumed brightly and Lallana thudded a drive into Szczesny’s chest, meaning eyebrows were raised when the same player made way for Pablo Daniel Osvaldo in the 52nd minute.
Having laboured under Southampton’s trademark high press, Arsenal responded impressively and Ozil cleverly engineered space in the area to test Boruc at his near post.
Osvaldo called Szczesny into action at the end of a driving 74th minute run and his attacking colleague saw an effort deflected wide.
Walcott was afforded a rapturous reception on his introduction and might have given Arsenal breathing space when he fired wide on the break before Giroud ensured a four-point lead at the summit with his composed spot-kick.
YouTube credit: CuLLuM315
First published at 16.10
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