Southampton 3-2 Arsenal: Superb Saints give Hasenhuttl dream home start
By Marc Walker
Southampton claimed a dream 3-2 victory over Arsenal and capped a superb team performance in Ralph Hasenhuttl’s first home game in charge.
A clinical Danny Ings double had given Saints a 2-1 lead going into half-time, but Henrikh Mkhitaryan’s deflected strike levelled it up shortly after the break.
It was to prove a frantic finish to the game though as Charlie Austin popped up at the far post to head home with five minutes remaining and secure a crucial three points.
An early warning came for Saints as Arsenal made a bright start to the contest. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang controlled a lofted ball over the home defence and volleyed at goal, forcing Alex McCarthy into an important block.
However, Saints looked bright on the counter and after Stuart Armstrong tested Leno from distance, they took the lead.
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Matt Targett swung in a superb cross that was perfect for the onrushing Danny Ings to meet with a bullet header that flew in and gave St Mary’s an early taste of what to expect under Hasenhuttl.
Despite that though, the visiting Gunners would level the game just eight minutes later.
Nach Monreal raced to the byline and pulled a cross back for Mkhitaryan to guide a header across McCarthy and into the far corner.
In previous games, this may have caused Saints heads to drop, but that would not be the case here.
They would gain the lead again as Ings got a clever second shortly before half-time. Nathan Redmond clipped in a ball to the forward who somehow managed to flick a lofted header just under the bar.
Keep him fit and Saints have a goalscorer that’s for sure.
The topsy-turvy afternoon did not end there. After Oriol Romeu was poorly caught in possession just outside his own area, Mkhitaryan’s speculative effort deflected cruelly off a Saints leg and dribbled past the helpless McCarthy.
An added fight and desire to win has been added by the new manager this week though and that would see the hosts grab a dramatic winner in the 85th minute.
Shane Long was played in down the right and had the composure to loft a cross over Bernd Leno to the far post and the waiting Charlie Austin had the simple task of nodding home.
St Mary’s erupted at full-time as the home faithful applauded a passionate performance from the players and a stunning home debut for their now man Hasenhuttl.