Southampton v Arsenal Live Commentary & Result, 23/01/2021, FA Cup

Southampton will be the team facing Wolves away in the FA Cup fifth round then. Hasenhuttl and his team will rightly fancy their chances in that game and feel they can go deep in this year's competition. They'll be awkward opponents for anybody. That's all for now. Goodbye!

Two shots on target all game for Arsenal tells its own story. While Southampton weren't great either, they made the most of the luck they got. The Gunners will naturally be disappointed that they've got knocked out of the cup but they surely know that sorting out their league form is the priority this campaign. There's always next season.

It's Southampton who progress to the FA Cup fifth round! The Saints have edged a fairly even game, refusing to budge after taking the lead through Gabriel's unfortunate own goal. Arsenal improved in the second half but never really threatened Forster. The holders go out of the competition.

90' + 3' FULL-TIME: SOUTHAMPTON 1-0 ARSENAL

90' + 2' That might have been Arsenal's last chance! Nketiah hits a swerver from the right of the box just wide of the top right corner.

90' + 1' Southampton go direct and the ball hits Holding to go out for a corner. Ward-Prowse goes short again and Arsenal soon win a free-kick. The Saints, of course, do their best to prevent the visitors from taking it quickly.

90' Saka fires a first-time cross just in front of Lacazette who's heading for the six-yard box. Lacazette can't get his head on the end of it though. Arsenal have three additional minutes in which to score to force this tie to extra-time.

89' Ward-Prowse has no interest in going for goal for the corner as Southampton wisely elect to play keep-ball. They're almost home and dry.

88' Arsenal's extended spell of pressure looks to be over. Southampton should be safe now. Holding gets into a footrace with Long and ends up handing the hosts a corner.

87' Diallo looks to cause Arsenal some problems with a ball from the right. He gets a throw-in out of it. Southampton keep the ball near Arsenal's corner flag until Leno claims an underwhelming cross.

S. Long

D. Ings

85' Southampton substitution. Their veteran target man Long replaces Ings.

84' Southampton survive for now. Pepe steps up to take the free-kick and swings it way over the crossbar with his left foot. The Saints are preparing another change.

R. Bertrand

Yellow Card

83' Bertrand slides in on Pepe as the Frenchman approaches the penalty area from the right. Bertrand gets booked but will it get worse for Southampton?

82' Arsenal see off Ward-Prowse's ball in. Ings has a snap shot from the edge of the box but it's straight down the throat of Leno.

81' Partey hands Southampton a welcome free-kick as he bundles over Bertrand near Arsenal's left corner flag. The Saints will be in no rush to take it.

79' Lacazette holds up the ball fantastically and the offside flag goes up against Pepe as Nketiah has a shot cleared off the line. Ward-Prowse is angry and relieved at the same time.

D. Nlundulu

C. Adams

78' Hasenhuttl makes a change now that Southampton are seeing less of the ball. The 21-year-old forward Nlundulu replaces Adams.

76' Cedric flings another ball into Southampton's box but the hosts are in no mood to give Arsenal a shooting opportunity. The next 15 minutes or so are going to be a test of Southampton's resolve.

75' Arsenal's corner is a weird non-event, taken short. The less said about that the better.

74' Arsenal are still playing 4-2-3-1. Lacazette is playing behind Nketiah with Willian and Pepe out wide. Willian slaloms this way and that in the box, crashing a shot off Walker-Peters for a corner.

73' Forster powerfully pushes away Saka's dangerous cross. Cedric, who's switched to right-back has his follow-up cross blocked. Southampton are coming under increasing pressure.

A. Lacazette

Bellerín

72' This is an interesting change for Arsenal. Bellerin goes off, handing Lacazette the captain's armband for good measure.

70' Nketiah's effort was Arsenal's first shot on target since Martinelli's in the 16th minute. No wonder they're about to send Lacazette on.

69' Saka is the latest player to send the ball skyward as the midfielder gets his foot over the ball. There's a hint of handball against Walker-Peters as he looks to defend against Pepe but the contact is entirely accidental.

67' Chance for Arsenal! Nketiah stretches to reach a difficult cross in Southampton's box and Forster is worried enough to tip it aside. Arteta gives his team a thumbs up.

66' Neither Arsenal nor Southampton have had a shot on target yet in this second half. It's starting to get a bit dull which will suit Southampton just fine.

65' Forster gets to retake his goal-kick as two Arsenal players race into Southampton's box before the kick's taken. Up the other end, Walcott can't keep his shot down.

64' Partey goes for goal from way out and is nowhere near hitting the target. Arteta shouts some words of encouragement.

63' Pepe is unable to hold up the ball and gives away possession. Forster's clearance upfield can't find a teammate though. Southampton are camped in their own half for now.

62' Arsenal are seeing more of the ball now but aren't doing a whole lot more with it. Bednarek boots out for a throw-in with Saka lurking opportunistically nearby.

60' Bellerin's cross from deep gets short shrift from Walker-Peters. Southampton are continuing to look solid.

59' Nketiah puts together a nice one-two to force a corner for Arsenal. Southampton don't entirely clear it and Holding flicks the ball over the crossbar under pressure. It's a half-chance but the best thing Arsenal have created in a while.

B. Saka

Martinelli

58' Martinelli is the next Arsenal player to head off. Saka, one of Arsenal's better players lately, comes on.

T. Partey

Mohamed Elneny

57' Arsenal make a few substitutions. Partey takes Elneny's place at the base of midfield first.

J. Stephens

Yellow Card

56' Stephens gets the game's first yellow card for a late challenge on Pepe.

54' Arsenal get a corner off Stephens but it doesn't lead to much. Southampton see the wrath of the offside flag again as they constantly try to test Arsenal's shaky backline. Arteta is preparing changes.

52' Bednarek protests with the assistant referee as a throw-in goes Arsenal's way. Southampton get rid of it easily.

51' Southampton know that a second goal would put them in a very comfortable position. Arsenal haven't looked more likely to score yet since half-time. Ward-Prowse blazes over again from distance as Bertrand's blocked cross comes out to him.

49' Chance for Southampton! Ings latches onto Forster's ball over the top, firing towards Leno. The ball hits the right-hand post and rebounds off Leno's back to go out of play. Thankfully for Arsenal Ings is offside.

48' Ward-Prowse's ball in is cleared by Arsenal. Pepe looks to carry his team away on the counter quickly but Diallo races back to put a stop to it.

47' Walker-Peters is left banging the floor in pain after a coming together with Martinelli. Thankfully the Saints full-back is fine to continue. Southampton get the free-kick too.

46' Arsenal get this game restarted. Arteta has resisted making changes for now.

Martinelli has looked Arsenal's brightest spark so far. The 19-year-old had the Gunners' best chance in the first half, in the sense that it was their only shot on target. How will Arteta gee up his players for the second half? Coming from behind is tricky against this stubborn Southampton side but not impossible.

Gabriel's own goal is the difference between Southampton and Arsenal at half-time. Southampton have been the better side overall and deserve their slender lead. Arsenal have played positively in patches but have looked in need of a pick-me-up since going behind.

45' + 1' HALF-TIME: SOUTHAMPTON 1-0 ARSENAL

45' Cedric gets his cross all wrong and it dips harmlessly out of play for a Southampton goal-kick. There'll be just the one minute of added time.

43' Ward-Prowse understandably goes straight for goal and isn't too far away with a curl towards the top left corner. Southampton are looking good just before the half-time break.

42' Southampton get another chance to test Leno from a set-piece as Pepe clumsily barges over Bertrand in an aerial challenge. The foul is near the left corner of Arsenal's box.

40' Southampton are looking assured at the moment, although they're still vulnerable to the odd error. Bednarek anticipates Willian's run down the left and successfully buys a throw-in off the Brazilian.

38' Southampton hassle Arsenal in their own half again, eventually forcing a chance for Ings. Ings can't get any power on the effort though and it bounces safely through to Leno.

36' Pepe picks up the ball from Nketiah's darting run and smashes a shot off Stephens. Arsenal try to move it over to Cedric arriving at the far post but the pass isn't right.

35' Meanwhile. Southampton have a corner as Holding blocks Armstrong's shot. Ward-Prowse's delivery this time isn't the greatest and goes out for an Arsenal goal-kick. It happens.

34' More on Gabriel's own goal. That was the first goal Arsenal have conceded since Tammy Abraham’s strike for Chelsea on Boxing Day, ending the Gunners’ run of 508 minutes without conceding. Arsenal may have improved of late but they still look emotionally frail from their prolonged poor spell.

33' Walker-Peter gets in front of Willian and goes down under the Brazilian's challenge. The passage of play ends in a Southampton throw-in which Walker-Peters takes.

31' Forster and his defenders play things a little too carefree at the back, forcing Forster to smack the ball off the onrushing Nketiah for a goal-kick. Neither side is afraid to press the other in possession which is fun to see.

29' The corner comes in and Bertrand's ambitious shot from range ends predictably in failure. Still, Southampton are starting to bully Arsenal whose heads have dropped a little since going behind.

28' Ings spots an opportunity in the box and goes for it on the half-volley. It deflects off Bellerin and out for a Southampton corner.

27' Gabriel is the first Arsenal player to score an own goal in the FA Cup since the former Southampton midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain against Sunderland in February 2012. So now you know.

26' Arsenal are unlucky to be behind as there's been little to divide these two teams so far, but Southampton have picked up the pace in the last few minutes. Ward-Prowse has a pop from distance and his shot swerves wide of the top right corner. Hasenhuttl claps his approval.

Gabriel Magalhães

Own Goal

24' GOAL! SOUTHAMPTON 1-0 ARSENAL! Southampton work the ball to the right and Walker-Peters fires a shot across goal between the legs of Cedric. It takes a kind deflection off Gabriel which diverts it past Leno into the far bottom corner. That'll go down as an own goal.

23' The ferocity of Southampton's forward press is a sight to behold. It forces a turnover in possession in Arsenal's defensive third and...

22' Southampton successfully intercept an Arsenal attack but can't get forward quickly enough to mount a threat of their own. Eventually the hosts force a throw-in down the left off Bellerin.

20' Cedric does a great job of shielding the ball from Walcott, going down only to swivel back up and fire in a cross. It goes out of play, but the ex-Saints man has started this game well.

18' Martinelli beats Walker-Peters to get into the box. Bednarek soon comes across to help his teammate out.

17' Ings looks to combine with Adams but can't find his strike partner. Ings instead lays off to Walcott who shoots wide of goal from range. This has been quite an even game so far.

16' Walker-Peters gives Arsenal a free-kick down their left. It somehow finds Martinelli all alone in the box after his clever run from deep but the Brazilian teenager can't get his feet together to strike it cleanly. Forster blocks and Southampton clear.

14' Chance for Southampton! Adams picks up the ball down the right and darts inside, beating Gabriel as if he isn't there, before firing straight at Leno. Leno gets low to tip the shot aside.

12' Martinelli cuts inside to cannon a shot against a defender. Willian fires in a low cross from the right but Stephens is in the right place to intercept. Arsenal are having a nice spell of pressure which ends when Cedric lets fly over the crossbar.

10' Pepe chases after a searching ball from deep and pressures Bertrand to knock the ball out for Arsenal's first corner of the game. Pepe's corner is cleared easily at the near post by Southampton.

8' Arsenal get a free-kick as Armstrong is overeager in challenging for a cross in the box. Adams is hobbling a little but the Southampton striker should be able to shake off whatever niggle he's picked up.

6' Arsenal enjoy a decent spell of possession for the first time so far. Xhaka looks to find Cedric out on the left flank but the former Southampton full-back can't keep the pass in play.

5' This is a good start by Southampton. Ward-Prowse spots Leno off his line and tries to catch him out by curling the corner towards goal at the near post. Leno gets it away with the help of the woodwork and Southampton get a third corner which Arsenal this time clear.

4' Southampton have their first corner of the game as Bertrand's cross is nodded out of play. Ward-Prowse swings it in and Ings makes contact at the near post. It deflects off Nketiah for another Saints corner.

3' Ward-Prowse drops a tantalising ball in behind Arsenal's backline but Arsenal's keeper Leno races of his line to claim it.

2' Southampton get an early free-kick as Gabriel elbows Ings out of the way of the ball, catching the striker in the face. Ward-Prowse, the Saints' set-piece specialist, is of course eyeing this up.

1' Southampton get this FA Cup fourth round tie started!

The two teams are out on the pitch on a bright, cold day in Southampton. Southampton are wearing their usual red, white and black home colours. Arsenal are in their dark navy third strip.

Southampton have won just one of their last nine meetings with Arsenal in all competitions. However, they should really have beaten the Gunners in their last meeting, a 1-1 draw at the Emirates just over a month ago. Will Southampton see off Arsenal or will Arteta's team continue their recent revival?

Southampton make six changes to the team that saw off Shrewsbury Town in their third round match this week. Ings' return to the fray after injury and a positive COVID-19 test is particularly good news for the Saints. There are seven changes to Arsenal from their 3-0 win over Newcastle midweek. Their loanee goalkeeper Ryan makes the bench while Pierre-Emerick Aubamayang misses out for personal reasons.

SUBS: Joseph Willock, Calum Chambers, Bukayo Saka, Runar Alex Runarsson, Alexandre Lacazette, Mat Ryan, Ainsley Maitland-Niles, Thomas Partey, David Luiz.

ARSENAL (4-2-3-1): Bernd Leno; Hector Bellerin, Rob Holding, Gabriel Magalhaes, Cedric Soares; Mohamed Elneny, Granit Xhaka (c); Nicolas Pepe, Willian, Gabriel Martinelli; Eddie Nketiah.

SUBS: Shane Long, Daniel N'Lundulu, Jake Vokins, Alexandre Jankewitz, Harry Lewis, Kgagelo Chauke, Yan Valery, Caleb Watts, Kayne Ramsay.

SOUTHAMPTON (4-4-2): Fraser Forster; Kyle Walker-Peters, Jan Bednarek, Jack Stephens, Ryan Bertrand; Stuart Armstrong, Ibrahima Diallo, James Ward-Prowse (c), Theo Walcott; Che Adams, Danny Ings.

Arsenal have won all four of their previous FA Cup ties against Southampton, going on to lift the trophy on the last three occasions in 1979, 2003 and 2017. The Saints are arguably the better side at the moment though so this should be a fascinating game. An away trip to Wolves in the fifth round awaits the victors. Let's do this!

Southampton and Arsenal will both fancy their chances of progressing to the next round of the FA Cup with these two teams arriving at this game in good form. Ralph Hasenhuttl's Saints are ticking over nicely, while the Gunners have rallied of late under Mikel Arteta.

Hello! Welcome to our live text commentary of this FA Cup fourth round tie between Southampton and Arsenal at St Mary's Stadium.

Southampton v Arsenal Live Commentary, 23/01/2021

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