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Nathaniel Clyne’s stunning strike sends Southampton past Arsenal Nathaniel Clyne’s stunning strike sends Southampton past Arsenal
(about 3 hours later)
Arsène Wenger called them miracle workers and Southampton enhanced their reputation not only with a result to celebrate but also the sheer standard of the performance. Having recalibrated their team over the summer, they played with a slickness and unity that was mightily impressive. Arsène Wenger called Southampton miracle workers and they enhanced their reputation not only with a result to celebrate but also with the sheer standard of the performance. Having recalibrated their team over the summer, they played with a slickness and cohesion that was mightily impressive.
Attacking the Capital One Cup with absolute commitment, this was quite a statement of intent from Ronald Koeman. It was a bone of contention last season that Mauricio Pochettino rested so many in the FA Cup and Southampton felt they more or less threw themselves out of a competition they could have fared well in. This was quite a statement of intent from Ronald Koeman, attacking the Capital One Cup with absolute commitment. It was a bone of contention last season that Mauricio Pochettino rested so many in the FA Cup and Southampton felt they more or less threw themselves out of a competition they could have fared well in.
The crest of the current Southampton wave is strong, though, and even the setback of going behind to Arsenal at the Emirates did not interrupt their momentum for long. The crest of the Southampton wave shows no sign of descent. Even going behind to Arsenal at the Emirates, as Alexis Sánchez opened the scoring with a beautifully crafted free-kick, did not interrupt their momentum for long. Their boldness allied to a committed sense of teamwork made it difficult to believe there are so many new cogs in their collective.
After watching the budding relationship between Mesut Özil and Danny Welbeck three days ago at Villa Park as each assisted the other, Wenger thrust Alexis Sánchez to centre stage, at the head of Arsenal’s attack. He began in rampaging mood. The Chilean opened the scoring with a sumptuous free-kick, which arced perfectly over the Southampton wall and into the top corner. Fraser Forster barely moved. “I’m proud of the team,” Koeman said. “We had a lot of changes in the team and the board did a lot to bring in good players to continue what the team did last season. We have showed our ambition but I realise football can change fast and we have to keep our feet on the ground.”
Southampton are made of spirited stuff under Ronald Koeman and they responded quickly in every sense. Sadio Mané, frighteningly fast and fresh from receiving his work permit, showed some trickery to bolt towards the penalty box. Tomas Rosicky’s challenge made contact, even if the Senegal attacker was eager to tumble, and the referee, Keith Stroud, duly awarded a spot kick. Dusan Tadic stroked his penalty down the middle of David Ospina’s goal. Koeman is saying, and more importantly doing, all the right things. Another string to Southampton’s bow was evident as Sadio Mané made an eventful debut. Linking up with the powerful Graziano Pellè and the polished Dusan Tadic, there is great variety in a new-look attack. Mané is so fast sometimes it looks as if his feet cannot catch up and he made a quick impact to help Southampton back into the game.
The visitors were impressively comfortable in possession and constantly ready to move the ball forwards. Their boldness allied to a committed sense of teamwork made it difficult to believe there were so many new cogs in their collective. He showed trickery to bolt towards the penalty box. Tomas Rosicky’s challenge made contact, even if the Senegalese attacker was eager to tumble, and the referee, Keith Stroud, awarded a spot-kick. Tadic stroked his penalty down the middle of David Ospina’s goal.
It was a stern test for Arsenal’s inexperienced defence and also for Abou Diaby, the anchoring midfielder detailed with the job of protecting them. It was hardly surprising he trotted slowly, struggling with the invigorating pace of the game, given that his relentless injuries made it a first start for 18 months. Southampton are made of spirited stuff and took the lead when Nathaniel Clyne latched on to a clearance then took the breath away with a belting strike from distance. Arsenal could feel disappointed on two fronts – no one was anywhere near Clyne to attempt to close him down, and Ospina, making his debut, will not look back on the match with great affection. The ball swerved and left him bewildered.
At times Mané looked too fast for his own feet – as if they were somehow trying to catch up. He looks capable of worrying many a full-back and another astute signing. Another newcomer who has settled so well, Graziano Pellè, grazed the outside of the post. It was a challenging night for Arsenal’s back four, who had three players with little more than a handful of first-team appearances. It was also a tall order for Abou Diaby in a new anchoring role in midfield. It was hardly surprising he trotted slowly, struggling with the invigorating pace of the game, given that his relentless injuries made it a first start for 18 months.
It was one of the older school from the Southampton ranks, Nathaniel Clyne, who suddenly took the breath away with a belting strike from distance which swerved, bewildered Ospina and thrillingly gave Koeman’s team the lead. But it was further forward that Arsenal had fewer excuses. While Sánchez worked tirelessly as usual, the support did not come so easily. Joel Campbell flitted in and out of the evening. Lukas Podolski, who had one shot repelled by the excellent Fraser Forster, toiled to little effect on the left. They, together with Rosicky, form the group who feel they ought to be getting more playing time but the opportunity to impress passed them by as Arsenal felt the force of Southampton’s endeavour and solidity.
Moments later Arsenal broke, Podolski was in the clear, yet Forster spread himself to block. The strength in the Saints’ midfield gave Koeman’s team great balance, allowing them to tuck back and help at the back, or spring forward to launch attacks. Koeman is looking forward to even more improvement as Saints get to know each other more. “It’s the beginning. This team can do much better,” he said. The chances were there to make the scoreline more emphatic. At the other end Forster saved brilliantly from Sánchez.
A slick break early in the second half emphasised the threat posed by Southampton. Tadic flicked a pass across goal for Steven Davis and Ospina was this time able to gather. Tadic enjoyed the freedom to express his talent and increasingly found the space to prise open the home back four, who had three players – Hector Bellerín, Isaac Hayden and ex-Saint Calum Chambers – with all the experience of six first team games for Arsenal between them. The polished Serbian tested Ospina with a low, fizzing free-kick. “We have to be realistic,” said Wenger of the rotation needed in his squad before a big week that includes a Champions League tie with Galatasaray sandwiched between two spicy derbies against Tottenham and Chelsea.
Wenger’s team struggled to make ground. Joel Campbell, who flitted in and out of the evening, appealed for a penalty but the referee waved him away. Podolski toiled to little effect on the left. They, together with Rosicky, form the group who feel they ought to be getting more playing time but the opportunity to impress seemed to be passing them by as Arsenal felt the force of Southampton’s endeavour and solidity. Southampton could simply beam and march merrily on.
Santi Cazorla and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain came on to bring some zip and imagination and Arsenal were close to an equaliser when Sánchez connected with Bellerín’s cross. Forster saved brilliantly. Southampton march merrily on.