Southampton: Watch as Gabriel own goal gives Saints win over Arsenal

Southampton advanced to the Fifth-Round of the FA Cup with a solid 1-0 win over Arsenal on Saturday afternoon.

Overall, Saints were fully deserving of their victory and controlled much of the game in the first-half. They had to see off a strong fightback from the Gunners in the second period but defended well to secure a 10th clean sheet of the season.

The winning goal came in the 24th minute and via a source that Saints probably did not predict: an own goal.

A low drive across goal from Kyle Walker-Peters was deflected under Arsenal goalkeeper and into the far corner by Gunners defender Gabriel, although the build-up to the goal was certainly not a fluke.

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Saints won possession back in their usual pressing fashion. The excellent Ibrahima Diallo and Stuart Armstrong combined to rob Mohamed Elneny of the ball in a dangerous area and spring a Saints attack.

Pinned in and heading back towards his goal, Elneny was tackled and Armstrong shifted play to Danny Ings on the edge of the penalty box. The striker then moved the ball onto James Ward-Prowse centrally.

Importantly, the presence of Theo Walcott inside the box had dragged Arsenal players in from a wide position and created huge space for Kyle Walker-Peters to push forward into.

Captain Ward-Prowse found the Right-Back with former Saints man Cedric for company. This is also key because Cedric was playing as a Left-Back – considerably more uncomfortable for him than his more natural right side when an opponent is attacking the byline.

A quick shift of the ball worked space for Walker-Peters and he drove a perfect low ball across the six-yard line. Not wishing to allow the cross to reach the far post, Gabriel made the decision to try and get his foot in the way but failed to get the required contact on it.

The deviation of the ball took it under Leno in goal and, although Saints fans and Kyle Walker-Peters would have been claiming it as their own, this will go down as a Gabriel goal in favour of Saints.