Southampton 1-0 Arsenal: Jan Bednarek strike condemns top-four chasing Gunners to third straight defeat

Arsenal missed the prospect to transfer stage on factors with fourth-placed Tottenham as Southampton gained at St Mary’s to inflict a third successive defeat on Mikel Arteta’s group.

Bukayo Saka was denied from point-blank vary by Southampton goalkeeper Fraser Forster with the rating nonetheless goalless, however additional clear-cut openings proved laborious to come by for the guests till the closing levels of the second half.

Emile Smith Rowe compelled one other high-quality save out of Forster after latching on to Yan Valery’s tried clearance, earlier than Martin Odegaard dragged a left-footed shot huge of the close to put up after chopping in from the precise.

Forster produced yet one more spectacular cease to deny Granit Xhaka late on as Arsenal desperately piled ahead searching for an equaliser.

The Gunners stay three factors behind fourth-placed Tottenham – who have been crushed at house to Brighton earlier on Saturday – though they do nonetheless have a recreation in hand on their north London rivals.

Southampton, in the meantime, climb to twelfth after claiming their first league win since February.

Magnificent Forster retains Gunners at bay

Following lacklustre shows at Crystal Palace and at house to Brighton final weekend, Gunners followers might have hoped this journey to St Mary’s would show to be an excellent fixture to reignite their top-four push.

Saints had misplaced 5 of their previous six matches in all competitions earlier than Saturday and conceded 19 objectives within the course of – together with a 6-0 capitulation at house to Chelsea of their final match. They had additionally gained solely one in all their previous 12 conferences with Arsenal within the Premier League.

The hosts had Forster to thank for maintaining the rating goalless within the early levels of the primary half, the veteran goalkeeper getting down low to palm Gabriel Martinelli’s curling shot previous the put up earlier than deflecting Saka’s close-range effort over the bar following an error from Valery.

Although the Gunners continued to dominate possession because the half wore on, they lacked the tempo to create additional openings in opposition to a resolute and defensively organised Southampton. The hosts then punished Arsenal when Bednarek fired house his fourth aim of the season with a minute of the primary half remaining.

When Arsenal did handle to penetrate the Saints rearguard late within the second half, they discovered Forster in impressed type. The 34-year-old did magnificently to parry Smith Rowe’s goal-bound effort huge earlier than getting in the best way of a low Saka shot.

Forster additionally managed to get his fingertips to Xhaka’s curling strike with the clock ticking in direction of 90 minutes – though the Switzerland worldwide’s effort might have been heading narrowly huge.

Arsenal nonetheless have a recreation in hand on Spurs in fourth however with matches in opposition to Chelsea, Manchester United and West Ham developing within the subsequent fortnight, this may go down as a missed alternative for Arteta and his gamers.

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