Arsenal V Southampton - As it happened.
Join us for live text updates of Sunday's Premier League early kick-off, as an in-form Arsenal host a struggling Southampton at the Emirates.
List of goalscorers
Match report in news
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96'FT: Arsenal 3 - 2 Southampton - What a game. Arsenal went into the second half one goal up, but were pegged back in the 73rd minute as Charlie Austin scored minutes after coming on from the bench. Welbeck missed a sitter in the 78th, before making up for it with a headed goal three minutes later. The game ended in a bizarre fashion, with two red cards in the space of a minute. Saints will feel hard done by, but they leave with 0 points.
Yellow card
a Southampton
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96'Another card, this time it's yellow for Hoedt.
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93'Wow. And now Elneny sees red. The midfielder shoved Cedric in the face, but it's a harsh call. Bizarre end to the game.
Red card
a Southampton
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92'Dear dear dear. Wilshere puts in a cynical foul on Stephens, dragging his shirt and ripping it during a Southampton counter attack. Stephens reacts very badly, pushing Wilshere over. Wilshere sees yellow, but Stephens sees red.
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90'Four minutes of added time to be played.
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89'A frantic end to the game here, as Saints push hard for an equaliser. No luck so far though.
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86'Good save from Cech! Tadic hits it on the half-volley, forcing a good stop out of the Arsenal keeper.
Goaaaaaal!
de Arsenal en el 81'
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Statistics of Danny Welbeck in Premier League2850.18210
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81'GOAL! Arsenal! Welbeck! The forward makes amends for his earlier shocker with a late goal. Alex Iwobi finds him with a cross, and Welbeck heads past McCarthy at the back post. Redemption. Can the hosts hold onto this late lead?
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81'Goalscorer Shane Long finally comes off. He'd been struggling early on, but gave everything and carried on all game. Josh Sims replaces him.
Goaaaaaal!
de Southampton en el 73'
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Statistics of Charlie Austin in Premier League2470.29020
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73'GOAL! Southampton! Austin! What an impact! Cedric puts in some lovely work down the right side of the box, driving to the byline before cutting it back. Charlie Austin, who only just got on the pitch, gets his foot on it and steers it past Cech from close range to equalise for the visitors. This sets up an exciting final 15 minutes of the game,
Substitution
at Southampton
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72'Offensive sub from Mark Hughes. Centre-back Yoshida comes off, and on comes Charlie Austin to join Shane Long up front. Saints moving to a four at the back now.
Substitution
at Arsenal
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71'A second change for the home side. Aubameyang comes off and Alexandre Lacazette comes on. A fairly like-for-like sub.
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68'Good effort from Hoedt! The defender sees the ball run to him from 35 yards out, and has a pop. Cech is forced to make a good block, putting it out for a corner.
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66'Mustafi blocks Tadic's path and the visitors demand a free-kick, but the ref waves it away.
Substitution
at Arsenal
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65'Youngster Reiss Nelson is replaced by Jack Wilshere.
Goal disallowed
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64'GOAL DISALLOWED! Shane Long believes he's levelled for the visitors, getting a touch on Cedric's pass, but he's ruled offside. Replays show it was the right call.
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62'Close! Shane Long does well to meet a Bertrand cross with his head, and his effort is on target, forcing Cech to tip it away for a corner.
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56'Mustafi does make defending look difficult sometimes. The German gives away a corner from a Southampton cross, and manages to fall over in the process. Saints nearly score from the set play, and Elneny is forced to head it clear from the goal-line.
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54'Long shot for Saints. Hojbjerg fires one from distance, but it doesn't trouble Cech too much.
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52'Good effort from Iwobi! The forward finds time outside the Saints box, and hits a low, powerful effort, which McCarthy does well to save.
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50'Yellow for Bellerin, after the right-back manhandled Shane Long.
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47'A couple of early shots on target from Arsenal. Aubameyang's first effort is parried by McCarthy, then Xhaka comes close to beating the keeper at his left post with his low shot from distance.
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46'And we're back underway for the second half!
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45'HT: Arsenal 2 - 1 Southampton - Arsenal started without any urgency, and Southampton deservedly took the lead in the 19th minute through Shane Long, after some woeful defending from Mustafi. The home side switched on about half-way through the first period though, and goals from Aubameyang and Welbeck turned the game back in their favour.
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45'Hojbjerg isn't happy with the referee. The Saints midfielder collided with Bellerin and took a knock on the chin, but nothing is given. The right call, as there is no intent from Bellerin.
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45'A bit of pinball in the box, as McCarthy tips Xhaka's corner away. Aubameyang feeds Chambers, but it is cleared by Stephens.
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44'Looks like Shane Long is still suffering from that earlier problem, as he is walking with a slight limp.
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43'An ambitious effort by Ward-Prowse, who shoots from 25 yards out, but it's wide.
Goaaaaaal!
de Arsenal en el 38'
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Statistics of Danny Welbeck in Premier League2850.18210
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38'GOAL! Arsenal! Welbeck! Iwobi puts Welbeck in with a nice through-ball, and the forward drives on, before firing at McCarthy. His shot takes a slight deflection off Yoshida, sailing past the keeper. A 10 minute comeback from the home side, who now lead 2-1.
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33'Romeu shoves Welbeck to the ground for a freekick. Aubameyang takes it, but his delivery soars over the bar.
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32'Corner to the home side. Xhaka delivers, the ball evades everyone and Aubameyang puts it back in. Callum Chambers gets on the end of it and attempts an overhead kick. Weak, and straight at the keeper.
Goaaaaaal!
de Arsenal en el 29'
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Statistics of P. Aubameyang in Premier League13100.77400
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29'GOAL! Arsenal! Aubameyang! Arsenal score from their first real chance. Iwobi plays it to Welbeck in a central area near the Saints box. Welbeck flicks it on for Aubameyang, who toe-pokes it past McCarthy to equalise. Mark Hughes will not be happy.
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26'Mark Hughes has set up his side in a very organised manner here. The visitors are holding a good defensive shape, and Arsenal haven't really been able to find their way through yet.
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22'Bellerin puts a cross in, but there is no Arsenal player in the Saints box able to get their head on it and it's cleared off Bertrand's head.
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19'That is Shane Long's second goal in 48 games, and the Irish forward has repaid Mark Hughes' faith in him. Southampton look the more up for it here, as they fight to avoid the drop.
Goaaaaaal!
de Southampton en el 17'
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Statistics of S. Long in Premier League3020.07160
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17'GOAL! Southampton! Shane Long! Tadic holds it up down the left, before laying off for Cedric, who takes it to the byline. The cross comes in last minute, and Shane Long gets ahead of a ball-watching Mustafi to put it past Cech. Very poor from the centre-back. Arsenal look lacklustre here in a half-empty Emirates stadium.
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15'First corner of the game goes to Arsenal, but the delivery doesn't find anyone. Meanwhile Shane Long looks like he might be hurt.
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10'Welbeck again trying to run in behind, but he isn't quite quick enough. Southampton go up the other end with another long ball, with Shane Long almost feeding a teammate. Arsenal just about recover, but they look capable of conceding here.
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7'And there it is! Saints go close to opening the home side up on the counter. Tadic latches onto a long ball and feeds Ward-Prowse, who attempts to shoot. The pass is just behind him, though, and his shot is weak.
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5'Southampton are sitting fairly deep, letting Arsenal keep the ball near the half-way line. Shane Long will be their outlet if/when they are able to counter.
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3'Arsenal start on the front foot. Welbeck attempts to get on the end of a through ball, but McCarthy collects.
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1'And we're off here at the Emirates! Saints get us underway.
Start of match
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PRVWBefore kick off there is a minute's applause for England legend Ray Wilkins, who passed away this week.
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PRVWThe players are out on the pitch, but they come out to a reduced crowd at the Emirates . Lots of empty seats here in rainy North London.
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PRVWIt's a landmark day for two Arsenal players today. 18-year-old Reiss Nelson receives his first Premier League start, while Peter Cech will be walking out for the 100th time in the PL.
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PRVWMeanwhile, Mark Hughes has opted for a three at the back system, with Yoshida, Hoedt and Stephens sitting ahead of goalkeeper McCarthy. Shane Long is a surprise inclusion up front, with the Irish striker, who has only scored once this season, starting ahead of Charlie Austin.
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PRVWArsene Wenger has made a raft of changes from the side that beat CSKA in the Europa League on Thursday. Ozil, Lacazette, Monreal and Wilshere all drop to the bench, while Ramsey and Koscielny are not even in the squad. Reiss Nelson receives a Premier League debut, while ex-Saints player Callum Chambers slots into the back-four.
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PRVWAnd the visitors' XI: McCarthy, Cedric, Stephens, Hoedt, Yoshida, Bertrand, Romeu, Tadic, Hojbjerg, Ward-Prowse, Long.
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PRVWAnd here's how the home side line up: Cech, Bellerin, Chambers, Mustafi, Kolasinac, Elneny, Xhaka, Iwobi, Nelson, Welbeck, Aubameyang.
Pre-match
08 April 2018, 15:15
Referee: Andre Marriner
Stadium: Emirates Stadium
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PRVWHello and welcome to today's Premier League early kick-off! Arsenal, who have enjoyed a revival in form of late, host Mark Hughes' Southampton, who are floundering at the bottom of the table, and have lost their last two league games. The return fixture ended in a 1-1 stalemate, but Arsenal are favourites to make it six consecutive victories today.