Southampton vs Arsenal RESULT: Saints deny the Gunners victory as Armstrong equalises for points after Xhaka's opener

 

Premier League leaders Arsenal held off Southampton at St Mary's as they drew for the first time this season.

Granit Xhaka's onslaught in the first set gave Arsenal a proper lead but Stuart Armstrong scored the equaliser of the 2nd set and Southampton were well-priced for that point as the noisy crowd of hosts roared their way through the line.

With a balanced result Arsenal still remain two points ahead at the top of the table, while Southampton rise to 12 points.

What we're in from Southampton versus Arsenal

His early goals still remain key for the Gunners: During the season they've set the scoring at the start of the game, come out of the trap and score faster when they're at the top. His next former generally took care of himself as Arsenal could sit back and lure the enemy to take more and more chances to get back to playing. This is the light of something that Mikel Arteta and this young team demanded full of energy, speed, and cheerfulness. Sometimes a game as simple as starting quickly and has the right to set the tempo. However, the possibility of fatigue is there and they cannot go through the limit to make their 10 wins over 11 to start the season.

The Saints found some rhythm: Losing Che Adams from the beginning after a slight hamstring problem, added by several other regular players due to injuries, this was a bold selection of the lineup from Hasenhuttl. They used a 4-4-2 mechanism and when they won the ball back high, they caused problems. Saints will be in a fight to avoid a setback battle this season but they have a tough start to the campaign as six of their opening 12 games have already arrived challenging teams in the top seven. They've shown enough to show if they can move to the middle and emphasis from Hasenhuttl for now.

Tactical concentration

Saints were brave and went away with a 4-4-2 from the start. On the odd occasion they won the ball back high they looked terrorised but Arsenal took the hole in their centre row quite easily and it was a big surprise if it was only 1-0 for the Gunners in the first set. The 2nd set saw the Saints play with real courage and they earned the prize.

Star attractions

Lyanco: Brilliant defense out of status at right-back. Set the votes for the saint's okay appearance.

Duje Caleta-Car: Great. Made Jesus still remain silent and calm on the ball. Made a good cooperation with Salisu at central defender.

Granit Xhaka: Got the goal and funneled the ball outwards. The extraordinary season is usually to be continued.

What's next?

Southampton head towards Crystal Palace next Saturday, October 29, while Arsenal travel to PSV Eindhoven on Thursday in the Europa League and serve Nottingham Forest on Sunday, October 30.

Custom storyline

Saints got the most necessary win after a poor performance and Hasenhuttl has returned to a more experiential starting lineup for an important stretch of play. Che Adams led the line great and the Saints looked much better protectively this season. They are the most bizarre team because they have beaten Chelsea at home this season but lost to several people such as Aston Villa, Everton and Wolves. Saints needed stability and that allowed Hasenhuttl to play his potential youngsters often. Saints' most recent close at home came in their 1-0 win against Arsenal in April and their last two teams served the Arsenal team at the top of the PL they won and pulled one of them from that face-to-face.

As for Arsenal, well, they are seeking a 1-0 away win at Leeds late last week and this should be the same test for arteta's faction. They lost 1-0 at Southampton last season in a game they were supremacist but unable to complete the chance. With Gabriel Jesus currently around, this is the type of game they need to win if they want to lock up a top-four finish, at a minimum, this season. Arsenal have kept more and more clean sheets (4) and fewer goals (3) away from home than any other team in PL this season.

Shaped players that need to be monitored

Che Adams scored the winning goal at Bournemouth and ran himself to the ground leading the line, while Romain Perraud had a goal and an assist in the last two games and the French left-back was a real terror up front. Bukayo Saka scored the winning goal for Arsenal at Leeds, while the Gunners dredged deeper and put in a gritty performance.

Southampton team information, injuries, roster

Tino Livramento continues to work back to full health, while potential teenage centre Romeo Lavia is really close to returning. Armel Bella-Kotchap suffered a shoulder injury against West Ham and will be sidelined for a couple of weeks, at a minimum, while right-back Kyle Walker-Peters limped to challenge Bournemouth in midweek and was out for a long time with a hamstring problem. Saints to the back five for this game.

Arsenal team information, injuries, list of players

Emile Smith Rowe and Mohamed Elneny are still out, while Oleksandr Zinchenko is out but Gabriel Martinelli is fit. Four and two defensive midfielders were again completed.

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