Saints 1-1 Arsenal

premier-league St Mary's Stadium | Sun 23 Oct 2PM | Attendance: 31,145
Match Report post Highlights

SOU vs ARS
Match Centre

SOU vs ARS As It Happened

Key moments so far

  • Saints hold the league leaders at St Mary's
  • Granit Xhaka had given Arsenal the lead in the 11th minute
  • The hosts rallied and equalised through Stuart Armstrong after the break
  • Ralph Hasenhüttl's side now three unbeaten in the Premier League
Photo by Matt Watson

FULL TIME: Saints 1-1 Arsenal

What a second half from Ralph Hasenhüttl's side. Trailing at the break to Granit Xhaka's strike, the hosts rallied after the restart and deservedly drew level when Stuart Armstrong rounded off a flowing team move. Saints enjoyed the better of the game after drawing level, but settled for a point to move three unbeaten in the Premier League. 

90+2’

Yellow Card for Lyanco Vojnovic (Southampton)

The defender is fouled, but is shown a yellow card for his reaction to Nketiah's foul.

90’

Into five minutes of stoppage time ⏱

Into the closing stages we go.

88’

Yellow Card for Theo Walcott (Southampton)

The substitute goes into the book for simulation. 

84’

Corner for Saints 🎯

JWP strides over to take it, after receiving an ovation from The Chapel Stand.

82’

Arsenal substitution: Fábio Daniel Ferreira Vieira replaces Martin Ødegaard

A further change for the visitors, as their captain is replaced. 

80’

Into the final 🔟

This game could go either way at St Mary's, with both sides looking for a winner in the closing stages.

79’

Southampton substitution: Samuel Edozie replaces Stuart Armstrong

Saints' goal scorer is off, with Edozie on in his place. 

79’

Arsenal think they've retaken the lead...

Tierney's pull back from the byline is dispatched by Ødegaard, but the linesman's flag is up as the ball crept out of play for a goal kick before Tierney could connect.

72’

Southampton substitution: Theo Walcott replaces Adam Armstrong

The second change sees Walcott come on against his former club.

72’

Southampton substitution: Ché Adams replaces Joe Aribo

A double switch from the hosts now, with Adams replacing Aribo up top. 

Goal time 🤩

Stuart Armstrong celebrates his equaliser. 

70’

Arsenal substitution: Kieran Tierney replaces Ben White

The second switch made by Mikel Arteta. 

70’

Arsenal substitution: Eddie Nketiah replaces Gabriel Teodoro Martinelli Silva

The first of two changes for Arsenal with 20 minutes remaining. 

70’

Aribo goes close 😮

Perraud's cut back finds Aribo who takes a touch to make a yard of space, but his low shot through a crowd of bodies is just about held by Ramsdale.

69’

The pressure continues 👊

Backed by some raucous home support, Saints are all over Arsenal at the moment. 

GOALSCORER 17 Stuart Armstrong

STUUUEYYYYY! 😍

It's all square! What a goal from Saints. Perraud fires the ball out wide to Elyounoussi in acres of space, who drives towards the box before sliding in Stu, who coolly slots past Ramsdale to lift the roof off at St Mary's!

64’

GOOOAL!!!

Stuart Armstrong (64’) | 1 1

Photo by Matt Watson

Encouraging signs

At 1-0, this is far from done and dusted. The Gunners have struggled to get going since the restart, with Saints on the front foot.

60’

Sensational, Moi 👏

That is a goal-saving tackle from Elyounoussi. Jesus looks to be clean through on goal, but as the Brazilian prepares to shoot, the Norwegian slides in with a stunning tackle to get a toe to the ball. 

58’

Almost a tap in for Moi 😱

It's a bright start to the half from Saints. Perraud's cross from the left almost finds Elyounoussi at the back post, but he's a stud's width away from connecting. 

55’

Gabriel requires treatment

Arsenal clear their lines at a corner, but Gabriel stays down inside the six-yard box and needs treatment for a head injury. 

51’

Saints move to three at the back

Lyanco, Ćaleta-Car and Salisu are now a back three, with Elyounoussi and Perraud acting as wing-backs in a bid to get back into this one.

46’

Perraud powers wide

An early attack in the second half from Saints, as Salisu's long throw falls to Perraud 20 yards out, but his strike is a couple of yards wide.

46’

Play resumes ▶️

The second half begins at St Mary's. Come on, lads! 

Photo by Matt Watson

HALF TIME: Saints 0-1 Arsenal

The league leaders lead at St Mary's. Granit Xhaka opened the scoring on 11 minutes after a bright start from the visitors, dispatching Ben White's cross. Ralph Hasenhüttl's side have struggled to trouble the Gunners and will need to improve in the second half.

45’

Two minutes of additional time ⏱

Into stoppage time at the end of the half.

44’

Bazunu denies Jesus

It's another good stop from the Irishman, who positions himself perfectly to parry Jesus's shot down into the ground from 12 yards.

42’

Arsenal weather the storm ⛈

Arteta's side are back on the front foot after absorbing Saints' promising spell, with Martinelli seeing a shot from the edge of the box deflect just wide.

37’

A good spell for Saints 💪

The hosts have spent the entirety of the last five minutes in Arsenal's half with a series of corners and crosses into the box, but Ramsdale remains untested between the sticks. 

35’

The corners keep coming...

Arsenal are defending Ward-Prowse's deliveries well, but can't clear their lines properly. 

33’

Pressure from Saints

A succession of corners from the hosts, with Ward-Prowse looking to threaten with his delivery. 

29’

Yellow Card for Bukayo Saka (Arsenal)

Not a good look for the Arsenal number seven, who throws himself to the floor looking for a free-kick on the edge of the box, with the referee booking Saka for simulation. 

25’

Jesus into the side netting 😬

Arsenal win the ball on the halfway line and Ødegaard's quick ball sets Jesus running into the box, with his strike blasting into the side netting from a tight angle.

Photo by Matt Watson

20 minutes gone... ⏳

It's been a difficult start for Saints at St Mary's, but there's a lot of football left to play.

16’

Visitors in control

After a lively start, the opening goal has cemented Arsenal's monopoly on possession. Saints are struggling to venture into the Gunners' half at the moment. 

12’

Jesus wants a penalty...

The Brazilian goes down in the box after a coming together with Ćaleta-Car, sparking wild appeals from the Arsenal players, but referee Robert Jones signals to play on. 

The Gunners strike

It's been coming for the visitors, who have the lead at St Mary's. White's cross from the right perfectly spots the run of Xhaka from midfield, who expertly dispatches the ball into the roof of the net from 12 yards.

10’

GOAL

Granit Xhaka (10’) | 0 1

9’

Ødegaard shoots wide

It's a great opening for the visitors as their captain has time to shoot from the edge of the box, but his left-footed effort is dragged a yard or two wide.

7’

Brilliant, Bazunu 👏

Salisu stops Jesus getting a shot off on goal but the ball falls nicely for Xhaka to hit first time, but Bazunu blocks the strike with his legs at his near post.

6’

Lyanco fires at goal

Space opens up in front of Lyanco who latches onto Stuart Armstrong's cross-field ball, but his driven shot from 25 yards is a comfortable one for Ramsdale. 

4’

Saka sends in a dangerous cross

A dangerous in-swinging cross comes in from the right courtesy of Saka, but a stretching Gabriel can't apply a finishing touch and it flashes wide for a goal kick. 

3’

Saints line-up 4-2-2-2 🧮

It's a familiar shape for Saints, with Lyanco in an unfamiliar right-back role. 

1’

Linesman's flag is up 

Jesus brings a smart early save from Bazunu with a strike from the left-hand side of the box, but the striker is flagged offside after the Irishman makes the save. 

1’

Up and running at St Mary's! 👊

We're under way in SO14. A big 90 minutes ahead... COYR! 

Showtime 🔜

The Saints players complete their warm-up at St Mary's.

13.49

A familiar face 😇

Recognise this legend? Former Saints goalkeeper Antti Niemi is a special guest at today's game!

13.42

A full house awaits 🏟

We're expecting a capacity crowd at St Mary's today - now less than 20 minutes to go!

13.41

Looking to build the momentum 📈

Take a look back at Saints' latest victory on the road at Bournemouth in midweek, which lifted the team away from the bottom three of the Premier League ahead of today's showdown.

13.39

Ready for action 👊

The players arrived at St Mary's some time ago to begin their matchday preparations. Stay with us for all the build-up - kick-off is now just 50 minutes away!

13.10

he has a little bit of hamstring problems and was not fully-fit the last days. we are not taking any risks because we don't want to lose him."

ralph hasenhüttl
on the absence of ché adams from the starting xi
13.08

Three changes for Saints 🔄

Manager Ralph Hasenhüttl has made three changes to his starting line-up from Wednesday's win at Bournemouth - all enforced. Kyle Walker-Peters is out with a hamstring injury, Ainsley Maitland-Niles is ineligible against his parent club and midweek match-winner Ché Adams has been struggling with a muscle problem. Lyanco, Ibrahima Diallo and Stuart Armstrong come into the side.

13.07

Arsenal team confirmed 

Starting XI: Ramsdale, White, Saliba, Gabriel, Tomiyasu, Ødegaard, Partey, Xhaka, Saka, Jesus, Martinelli.

Subs: Turner, Holding, Cédric, Tierney, Lokonga, Vieira, Nelson, Marquinhos, Nketiah.

13.04

Southampton team confirmed 😇

Starting XI: Bazunu, Ćaleta-Car, Lyanco, Salisu, Elyounoussi, Ward-Prowse, Diallo, Perraud, S. Armstrong, A. Armstrong, Aribo.
Subs: McCarthy, Larios, Payne, Finnigan, Djenepo, Edozie, Walcott, Mara, Adams.

13.00

Happy memories against the Gunners 💭

It was a good day against Arsenal last time they visited St Mary's back in April, as Saints prevailed with a 1-0 victory thanks to some inspired goalkeeping from Fraser Forster.

12.36

Get in the matchday mood! 📋

Check out our in-depth Match Preview for all the key pre-match information, team news, facts and stats ahead of kick-off.

12.09
VOTE NOW
With Kyle Walker-Peters sidelined today, who would you like to see slot into the right-back/right wing-back position?

With Kyle Walker-Peters sidelined today, who would you like to see slot into the right-back/right wing-back position?

The results so far:

  • Ibrahima Diallo
    16%
  • Moussa Djenepo
    21%
  • Mohamed Elyounoussi
    11%
  • Juan Larios
    26%
  • Lyanco
    5%
  • James Ward-Prowse
    21%

One hour until team news...

Who would you like to see in the Saints starting XI today? We'll have news of both line-ups at 1pm BST.

12.00

Mané madness 🤯

It was on New Year's Day 2015 that Sadio Mané produced this sublime finish from the tightest of angles, as Saints ran out 2-0 winners over Arsenal at St Mary's.

11.30

Saints suffer Walker-Peters setback

Check out the latest Saints team news ahead of today's game, including a setback for World Cup hopeful Kyle Walker-Peters.

11.01

i think it was an important win for us, no question. it lifts us above the line. in the last two games we have been more successful - this is the positive thing. the negative thing is we have another big injury that costs us a player for a long time out."

ralph hasenhüttl
on wednesday's victory at bournemouth
10.58

The boss looks to the challenge ahead 🎙

Ralph Hasenhüttl answered questions from the media at Staplewood on Friday morning, previewing today's game and the challenge of facing the Premier League leaders.

10.56

We're back 🏡

It's the end of a busy week of Premier League action, as Southampton face their third game in seven days. It's been a productive period so far, taking four points from the previous two matches, but today represents a sterner test against table-topping Arsenal. Stay with us for all the build-up, team news, match updates and live commentary...

10.51

SOU vs ARS Line Ups

Southampton

31
Gavin Bazunu (GK)
4
Lyanco yellow card
15
Romain Perraud
22
Mohammed Salisu
6
Duje Caleta-Car
27
Ibrahima Diallo
17
Stuart Armstrong goal
replace Samuel Edozie (80′)
24
Mohamed Elyounoussi
8
James Ward-Prowse (C)
9
Adam Armstrong
replace Theo Walcott (73′) yellow card
7
Joe Aribo
replace Che Adams (73′)
19
Moussa Djenepo
50
Ryan Finnigan
61
Lewis Payne
32
Theo Walcott
18
Sékou Mara
1
Alex McCarthy
23
Samuel Edozie
28
Juan Larios
10
Che Adams

Arsenal

1
Aaron Ramsdale (GK)
18
Takehiro Tomiyasu
6
Gabriel Magalhães
12
William Saliba
4
Ben White
replace Kieran Tierney (72′)
34
Granit Xhaka goal
5
Thomas Partey
8
Martin Ødegaard (C)
replace Fábio Vieira (83′)
9
Gabriel Jesus
7
Bukayo Saka yellow card
11
Gabriel Martinelli
replace Eddie Nketiah (71′)
30
Matt Turner
23
Albert Sambi Lokonga
21
Fábio Vieira
17
Cédric Soares
16
Rob Holding
27
Marquinhos
3
Kieran Tierney
24
Reiss Nelson
14
Eddie Nketiah

SOU vs ARS Match Stats

Southampton

Head to Head Stats

Arsenal
  • Possession (%)
    41
    comparison angle
    59
  • Shots
    10
    comparison angle
    12
  • Shots on target
    3
    comparison angle
    3
  • Corners
    9
    comparison angle
    4
  • Passes Complete
    288
    comparison angle
    466

Top Saints Player Stats

shots on target
Goals
1
Stuart  Armstrong
Stuart Armstrong
shots on target
Shots On Target
1
Lyanco
Lyanco
chances created
Chances Created
3
Stuart  Armstrong
Stuart Armstrong
passes completed
Passes Completed
45
James Ward-Prowse
James Ward-Prowse
tackles
Tackles
5
Ibrahima Diallo
Ibrahima Diallo
clearances
Clearances
4
Lyanco
Lyanco
saves
Saves
2
Gavin Bazunu
Gavin Bazunu