Head-master Olivier Giroud rescues point for Arsenal at Southampton
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ByEurosport
Updated 10/12/2017 at 15:00 GMT
Premier League, St Mary's Stadium - Southampton 1 (Austin 3) Arsenal (Giroud 88)
Arsenal's Olivier Giroud celebrates scoring their first goal
Image credit: Reuters
Olivier Giroud came off the bench to rescue a point for Arsenal with a late header at Southampton.
The Frenchman, who replaced Alexandre Lacazette in the 73rd minute at St Mary's, rose highest to nod home from Alexis Sanchez’s cross with just two minutes of the match remaining.
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Olivier Giroud of Arsenal scores the first Arsenal goal during the Premier League match between Southampton and Arsenal at St Mary's Stadium on December 9, 2017 in Southampton, England
Image credit: Getty Images
It cancelled out Charlie Austin’s third-minute strike – his fourth in four games – after he latched on to a reverse pass from Dusan Tadic and slotted past Petr Cech.
Austin squandered two more glorious opportunities as Arsenal’s defence threatened to crumble after a chaotic opening. Ryan Bertrand was also guilty of a glaring miss after the restart as Southampton failed to take advantage of the visitors’ deficiencies.
Arsene Wenger’s side were allowed to recover but while they dominated possession, they had registered only a single shot on target in the second half before Giroud’s late header, his seventh of the campaign.
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Charlie Austin of Southampton celebrates scoring the first Southampton goal with Nathan Redmond of Southampton during the Premier League match between Southampton and Arsenal at St Mary's Stadium on December 9, 2017 in Southampton, England
Image credit: Getty Images
The result means Southampton rise to 10th in the table, ahead of Huddersfield and Everton, while Arsenal jump one spot ahead of Tottenham to fifth, level on goal difference with Liverpool ahead of the Merseyside Derby.
TALKING POINT
Is a point good enough for Arsenal? Obviously Arsene Wenger will be grateful his side managed a draw because they weren’t good enough for large periods of the game – but is a point against a struggling Southampton team enough to please the Arsenal board and is there more Wenger could have done to influence the scoreline? The decision to choose Granit Xhaka ahead of Jack Wilshere in midfield is baffling while preferring Per Mertesacker over Calum Chambers is equally as bewildering.
MAN OF THE MATCH
Dusan Tadic (Southampton) - Constantly found space between Arsenal's defence and midfield to create numerous openings. Grabbed one assist and should have had more.
PLAYER RATINGS
Southampton: Forster 7, Stephens 6, Van Dijk 6, Yoshida 6, Redmond 7, Romeu 7, Ward-Prowse 7, Hojbjerg 8, Redmond 7, Tadic 8, Austin 8. Subs: Boufal 5, Gabbiadini N/A, Davis N/A.
Arsenal: Cech 7, Mertesacker 5, Koscielny 6 , Monreal 5, Bellerin 6, Ramsey 7, Xhaka 5, Kolasinac 7, Ozil 6, Sanchez 7, Lacazette 6. Subs: Wilshere 6, Giroud 7, Welbeck 5.
KEY MOMENTS
3’ - GOAL! Southampton 1-0 Arsenal. What a start by the hosts! Tadic plays Austin through with a lovely reverse pass and the striker makes no mistake by slotting the ball past Cech for his fourth goal in four games. Was he offside? It was close, but looks like he was just level with the defence.
4’ - CHANCE! Arsenal are extremely fortunate not to go further behind! Again Tadic and Austin cause the damage as the former carves open the visitors' defence with a beautiful through ball for the latter who has time and space, but drills the ball straight at Cech from the right side of the penalty box.
6’ - POST! Arsenal are all over the place defensively! Redmond drives down the right flank and curls a cross into the path of Austin whose first-time shot smashes off the woodwork. Cech was beaten.
40’ – CHANCE! Arsenal spread the ball to Bellerin on the wing. He tees Lacazette up inside the box, but the Frenchman, under pressure from Yoshida, skies his first-time effort. Replays show he was clattered by the Southampton defender - should it have been a penalty?!
61’ - OFF THE CROSSBAR! The Arsenal defenders stand off Romeu as they invite the Southampton midfielder to shoot. He obliges and his venomous effort from 25 yards skims the top of the crossbar and goes over.
65’ – CLOSE! Arsenal fail to deal with a long ball, as Tadic releases Bertrand! The full-back goes past Koscienly and loops the ball over Cech but fails to find the target. He should have scored.
88’ - GOAL! Southampton 1-1 Arsenal. Giroud with the equaliser! Sanchez is allowed space to dink in a cross and the Frenchman glances the ball past Forster for his seventh goal of the season. Wenger uses his get out of jail card...
KEY STATS
- No team has gained more points from losing positions in the Premier League this season than Arsenal (10 - level with Man City).
- No player has scored more substitute goals for a single Premier League team than Olivier Giroud – level with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer at Man Utd (17).
- Charlie Austin has scored in all three of his Premier League appearances against Arsenal. He has also scored eight goals in his last 11 Premier League starts for Southampton, including four in his last three.
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