Arsenal’s Alexis Sánchez finally finds way past stubborn Southampton
Arsenal 1 Southampton 0
Premier League| Arsenal |
|
|---|---|
| Southampton |
Arsenal have their momentum. This had been billed as the night when
they would build on the encouraging wins over Borussia Dortmund and West
Bromwich Albion, in which they had kept clean sheets but, for so long,
it looked as if they would get only one part of the equation right.
Southampton were well-drilled, tidy in possession and they flickered on the counter. For 70 minutes the visitors were the better team and the crowd bubbled with frustration. Too much of Arsenal’s passing was off-kilter.
Arsène Wenger’s decision to substitute Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, who had been just about the pick of the home team’s attacking players, was greeted by boos and it seemed like an illustration of how fragile the mood can be in these parts. Wenger spoke afterwards of how the crowd’s nerves had been transmitted to the players.
The man who replaced Oxlade-Chamberlain made the difference. Olivier Giroud showcased his physical strength, touch and eye for goal, bringing one particularly outstanding save from the impressive Fraser Forster.
But Southampton’s resistance broke after the cruellest of mishaps. Ronald Koeman had used his three substitutes – the first two after injuries to Jack Cork and Dusan Tadic following late tackles from Aaron Ramsey and Santi Cazorla respectively – when Toby Alderweireld felt a hamstring twang on 84 minutes. He had to go off, leaving Southampton to try to cling on with 10 men.
They could not do so. After Forster’s world-class, one-handed save from Giroud’s header, Arsenal sensed the decisive moment was close and it came after José Fonte appeared to have handled inside the area under pressure from Giroud.
The referee, Andre Marriner, who was officiating his first Arsenal game since he mistakenly sent off Kieran Gibbs at Chelsea last March, was not swayed and it was left to Ramsey to recycle the move to the right of goal.
Southampton crowded three men towards him but he fashioned a low cut-back and there was Alexis Sánchez, timing his arrival in predatory fashion, to guide a low shot home from close range. Wenger said Sánchez was one of the players who had needed to dig deep into his reserves of stamina but the Chilean has shown his fighting qualities on numerous occasions. It was his 14th goal for the club and, remarkably, the eighth time he has scored at 0-0. Southampton were crushed.
Koeman made the point that it was hard enough with 11 men at the Emirates and he felt that Alderweireld’s injury had given Arsenal “a step back into the game”. He did not complain about the tackles on Cork and Tadic – kicks can happen – but he voiced his frustration at how the relentless schedule in English football was placing too great a strain on clubs such as Southampton. This was the reason why Alderweireld’s hamstring had buckled.
Memo to Ronald: it is only going to get worse over Christmas. He suggested that he may have to move for reinforcements in January.
Southampton have lost to Liverpool, Tottenham Hotspur, Manchester City and Arsenal but, until Giroud’s introduction, they had looked set to enjoy some reward. Their football at the outset was balanced and easy on the eye, and Graziano Pellè should have scored after a neat interchange with Steven Davis. The finish was wild. Koeman would also point to Shane Long’s chance on the break in the 52nd minute. He ought to have crossed for Pellè in front of goal rather than shoot.
Arsenal had offered little apart from Danny Welbeck’s glancing header in first-half injury-time from Cazorla’s free-kick which Forster tipped over in spectacular fashion, but Giroud stirred them.
With virtually his first touch on 70 minutes he clubbed a shot from a tight angle that Forster beat clear and moments later his flick set Welbeck clear. Forster made another fine save.
Arsenal came on strong in the end and, after the goal, Forster denied Ramsey and Sánchez might have had a penalty for the substitute Maya Yoshida’s challenge. Wenger made the valid point that his team had created the better chances and he praised them for showing patience. “There was not our usual fluency,” he added. “But it’s important to win when it’s not perfect.”
Southampton were well-drilled, tidy in possession and they flickered on the counter. For 70 minutes the visitors were the better team and the crowd bubbled with frustration. Too much of Arsenal’s passing was off-kilter.
Arsène Wenger’s decision to substitute Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, who had been just about the pick of the home team’s attacking players, was greeted by boos and it seemed like an illustration of how fragile the mood can be in these parts. Wenger spoke afterwards of how the crowd’s nerves had been transmitted to the players.
The man who replaced Oxlade-Chamberlain made the difference. Olivier Giroud showcased his physical strength, touch and eye for goal, bringing one particularly outstanding save from the impressive Fraser Forster.
But Southampton’s resistance broke after the cruellest of mishaps. Ronald Koeman had used his three substitutes – the first two after injuries to Jack Cork and Dusan Tadic following late tackles from Aaron Ramsey and Santi Cazorla respectively – when Toby Alderweireld felt a hamstring twang on 84 minutes. He had to go off, leaving Southampton to try to cling on with 10 men.
They could not do so. After Forster’s world-class, one-handed save from Giroud’s header, Arsenal sensed the decisive moment was close and it came after José Fonte appeared to have handled inside the area under pressure from Giroud.
The referee, Andre Marriner, who was officiating his first Arsenal game since he mistakenly sent off Kieran Gibbs at Chelsea last March, was not swayed and it was left to Ramsey to recycle the move to the right of goal.
Southampton crowded three men towards him but he fashioned a low cut-back and there was Alexis Sánchez, timing his arrival in predatory fashion, to guide a low shot home from close range. Wenger said Sánchez was one of the players who had needed to dig deep into his reserves of stamina but the Chilean has shown his fighting qualities on numerous occasions. It was his 14th goal for the club and, remarkably, the eighth time he has scored at 0-0. Southampton were crushed.
Koeman made the point that it was hard enough with 11 men at the Emirates and he felt that Alderweireld’s injury had given Arsenal “a step back into the game”. He did not complain about the tackles on Cork and Tadic – kicks can happen – but he voiced his frustration at how the relentless schedule in English football was placing too great a strain on clubs such as Southampton. This was the reason why Alderweireld’s hamstring had buckled.
Memo to Ronald: it is only going to get worse over Christmas. He suggested that he may have to move for reinforcements in January.
Southampton have lost to Liverpool, Tottenham Hotspur, Manchester City and Arsenal but, until Giroud’s introduction, they had looked set to enjoy some reward. Their football at the outset was balanced and easy on the eye, and Graziano Pellè should have scored after a neat interchange with Steven Davis. The finish was wild. Koeman would also point to Shane Long’s chance on the break in the 52nd minute. He ought to have crossed for Pellè in front of goal rather than shoot.
Arsenal had offered little apart from Danny Welbeck’s glancing header in first-half injury-time from Cazorla’s free-kick which Forster tipped over in spectacular fashion, but Giroud stirred them.
With virtually his first touch on 70 minutes he clubbed a shot from a tight angle that Forster beat clear and moments later his flick set Welbeck clear. Forster made another fine save.
Arsenal came on strong in the end and, after the goal, Forster denied Ramsey and Sánchez might have had a penalty for the substitute Maya Yoshida’s challenge. Wenger made the valid point that his team had created the better chances and he praised them for showing patience. “There was not our usual fluency,” he added. “But it’s important to win when it’s not perfect.”
No comments:
Post a Comment