Arsenal 6-1 Southampton – Arsenal ease to win against Saints

Arsenal cruised to an emphatic 6-1 win over Premier League new boys Southampton today. It didn’t take the Gunners long to find the net, having dominated the opening stages of the game. Lukas Podolski and Santi Cazorla went close early on before Podolski played in Kieran Gibbs, who despite playing at left back, spent most of the game attacking. Podolski’s delightful ball to Gibbs resulted in Gibbs taking a cross-shot that went through the legs of Kelvin Davis and into the net off of Southampton’s unfortunate Jos Hooiveld.

Podolski then smashed in a magnificently taken free kick just after the half hour mark to increase Arsenal’s advantage. The goal was the highlight of what was overall a brilliant display by the German international.

Podolski celebrates his stunning free kick in style.

Another player that had a good game was Gervinho, who was selected ahead of the likes of Olivier Giroud and Theo Walcott for the game. He rewarded Wenger for his faith in him by finding the net after being played in by Mikel Arteta. It was a confident finish for a player that had only 4 goals last season and hadn’t scored in 2012.

Two minutes later and Arsenal were four to the good, Kieran Gibbs again being set free on the left hand side and the same outcome happened. Own goal, this time by Nathaniel Clyne.

In truth, Arsenal didn’t look like conceding in the first half. But on the stroke of half time, Wojciech Szczesny flapped at a cross after colliding with Carl Jenkinson, which gifted Danny Fox a goal for the Saints.

After the break, Southampton had a little belief about themselves. Rickie Lambert went closest for the Saints, with his effort going just wide. Southampton’s record signing Gaston Ramirez looking lively after coming on at the break and Arsenal weren’t playing as well as they had been in the first half and all of a sudden looked a bit shaky at the back.

It was a substitution from Arsene Wenger that helped kill off any Saints hopes. Aaron Ramsey flicked the ball past Clyne with ease and then saw his shot hit the post before Gervinho was there to tap home his second of the afternoon. In one afternoon he scored half as many goals as he did all last season. The Ivorian received a standing ovation from the crowd after a much better display from him. Lukas Podolski followed him off the pitch to a similar reception. There replacements were Olivier Giroud and Theo Walcott. Walcott was one of two ex Southampton players on the pitch today, with Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain being the other.

Walcott finished the rout off at the end after Thomas Vermaelen was denied by Southampton keeper Kelvin Davis, the former Saint scored on the rebound. Walcott didn’t celebrate against the club that gave him his chance and at the end of the game, both Walcott and Oxlade-Chamberlain showed their appreciation for their former club by going to applaud their fans that had sung for most of the game, despite the scoreline.

There was a weird sense of deja vu about the result today. Southampton came to Highbury at the end of the 2002/03 campaign in the league in what was a dress rehersal for the FA Cup Final between the two clubs a few weeks later. Arsenal won 6-1 that day, with hat-tricks from both Robert Pires and Jermaine Pennant. That result was the beginning of what was the 49 game unbeaten run. Southampton wore the exact same colours that day as they did today too.

A very confident display today from Arsenal. It should give them confidence ahead of a tough week with away trips to both French champions Montpellier in the Champions League and then to the English champions Manchester City in the league.