Arsenal vs Southampton : Welbeck Brace deepens Southampton’s problems

Arsenal vs Southampton : Danny Welbeck stimulated Arsenal to a sixth straight win with two goals and an assist in a warm-tempered 3-2 home win over Southampton, to leave the Saints still rooted in the relegation zone.

The britain forward had now not scored a single league goal since September last year, but proved to be the catalyst for a much-changed Arsenal side ahead of their Europa League quarter-final second leg at CSKA Moscow on Thursday. Saints remain 3 points adrift of safety in spite of taking the lead early on via Shane long goal and then levelling at 2-2 when Charlie Austin scored simply seconds after coming on as a substitute.

However Welbeck had the closing word via heading in the winner moments after he had missed a far simpler chance. And Southampton’s survival hopes suffered another blow whilst defender Jack Stephens was sent-off for an off the ball clash with Jack Wilshere in stoppage time, with Arsenal’s Mohamed Elneny additionally given a red card for shoving Cedric Soares in the face.
 Sixth-positioned Arsenal close to within two points of Chelsea, who host West Ham later on Sunday, but remain well off the tempo in the race for a top-four finish. Regardless of Arsenal’s recent revival, the Emirates was again a long way from complete as fans voted with their feet against Arsene Wenger’s refusal to quit his 22-year stay in charge as manager. Wenger made seven substitution  from the side that beat CSKA 4-1 of their quarter-final first leg on Thursday with securing a return to the Champions League by winning the Europa League now Arsenal’s priority for the rest of the season. And Southampton took complete advantage of a sloppy begin from the hosts within the 17th minute.
Cedric Soares move from the right did not look specifically risky, however goalkeeper Petr Cech and defender Shkodran Mustafi left it to each other and long nipped in to poke home. Arsenal responded properly, though, and Aubameyang delivered them level with his sixth goal in eight appearances for the Gunners as he flicked home Welbeck’s pass. Welbeck placed Arsenal ahead seven mins before the break when he accepted a pass from Alex Iwobi on the left and shrugged off challengers before unleashing a shot that was helped past McCarthy via a deflection off Maya Yoshida.

The second half started with McCarthy making amazing saves from Aubameyang, Granit Xhaka and Iwobi to underline why he is keeping England international Fraser Forster out of the Southampton team. At the other end Elneny needed to head off the line to keep out Wesley Hoedt’s header and Cech dived to save another long effort. long had the ball inside the net from Saints’ next attack, deflecting in a long-range effort from Cedric but the forward was marginally offside, even if he didn’t assume so. An equaliser was coming, although, and was netted by replacement Austin the 73rd minute after Cedric had burst into the box to square the ball for a tap in. Welbeck missed a brilliant chance to place Arsenal again ahead when he fired over from three yards out after Wilshere had hooked the ball across goal. however the England international made no mistake 9 minutes from time when he headed Iwobi’s delivery to the back post past McCarthy.