Scienza threatens as Southampton make bright start

Southampton, wearing their 50th‑anniversary yellow‑and‑blue kit, started with the confidence of a side unbeaten in 14 games coming into tonight and they had the first chance after four minutes.

Leo Scienza found some space down the left and surged into the area. He shifted the ball onto this right foot and could have taken the shot on but instead tried to manufacture some contact from Gabriel in search of a penalty. Referee Sam Barrott rightly waved away Southampton’s half-hearted claims and the chance was gone.

Max Dowman brought a save out of Daniel Peretz at the other end before Arsenal created another opening that saw Gabriel Martinelli fire in a shot that was heading towards the bottom corner before the intervention of home captain Taylor Harwood-Bellis.

Arsenal were struggling to find their rhythm and Southampton had an excellent opportunity to take the lead approaching the 20-minute mark. Some uncharacteristically poor defending from Gabriel saw him mis-time a clearing header and the ball fell nicely into the path of Scienza. The Brazilian was clean through but, after rounding Kepa Arrizabalaga, took too long to get his shot away and Cristhian Mosquera got back brilliantly to shepherd the winger clear of danger.

Martin Odegaard’s last start was against Brentford in February and the Gunners’ captain showed plenty of rust by wasting a great chance after 27 minutes. Shortly after testing Peretz with a powerful shot, the Norway midfielder was picked out by Martinelli inside the box but his shot hit his standing foot and drifted disappointingly wide.

Arsenal were finally starting to pin Southampton back and Peretz had to make another stop to prevent Dowman from scoring from a tight angle.

Just as they were getting on top, though, Arsenal were caught out at the other end.

James Bree’s cross from the right ought to have been dealt with by Ben White but the England international got caught under the ball, allowing Stewart to cushion it nicely on his chest and fire home.

Gyokeres gives Arsenal hope only to see it extinguished

Arsenal tried to respond early in the second period but Gabriel Jesus’s header was tame and straight at Peretz while Dowman saw an effort smuggled to safety.

For a side with the best defensive record in the top flight, Arsenal had looked shaky all night and another error from Mosquera allowed Tom Fellows the chance to shoot at goal but his effort flew over.

Arteta had seen enough and brought on regular starters Gyokeres and Riccardo Calafiori with Jesus and Myles Lewis-Skelly making way.

Noni Madueke came on for Odegaard on the hour mark but not before Saints struck the crossbar with the impressive Scienza crashing a searing drive onto the woodwork with Arrizabalaga beaten.

Gyokeres was one of the heroes of Sweden’s World Cup qualification with four goals in two play-off games and he came to Arsenal’s rescue, finishing superbly after Kai Havertz had cut the ball back into his path.