Arsenal: Kepa, White, Mosquera, Gabriel, Lewis-Skelly, Norgaard, Odegaard, Havertz, Dowman, Martinelli, Jesus

Subs: Raya, Saliba, Gyokeres, Madueke, Calafiori, Zubimendi, Harriman-Annous, O’Neill, Salmon

Arsenal crashed out of the FA Cup after losing 2-1 to Southampton at St Mary’s Stadium on Saturday night, despite a second half equaliser from Viktor Gyokeres.

Mikel Arteta made seven changes from the side that lost to Manchester City in the Carabao Cup final, with Myles Lewis-Skelly, Martin Odegaard and Gabriel Jesus all coming into the side.

Bukayo Saka, Declan Rice, Jurrien Timber and Piero Hincapie were among those missing out on the matchday squad altogether, although Noni Madueke shook off an injury to make the bench.

FIRST HALF

It was a high intensity start from both sides with Southampton wanting an early penalty after Scienza claimed he was fouled having nipped past Gabriel, but replays showed he fell over (dived) under little contact and play was waved on.

But despite looking too open in transition, Arsenal were dangerous in the final third and after Max Dowman and Gabriel Martinelli both had attempts at goal, Martinelli was inches away from scoring after a well-worked set piece but his goalbound effort was headed off the line by Harwood-Bellis.

It was a tough start out of possession for the Gunners and after Gabriel came for a header – and got it totally wrong – Scienza raced through with only Kepa to beat but after rounding the Spaniard, he hesitated and allowed Cristhian Mosquera time to get back with a strong recovery challenge.

Arteta’s men eventually settled and should have been ahead with 25 minutes on the clock, when Martinelli did well to get beyond Bree and find Odegaard completely unmarked on the penalty spot but the Norwegian fluffed his lines and scuffed a poor effort wide.

Dowman continued to receive the ball out wide and drew a yellow card from Manning for a late lunge, before testing Peretz again with a well-taken near post strike as Kai Havertz saw a deflected effort curl just past the post. It felt like a matter of time before Arteta’s men would score.

But despite that positive spell, Arsenal continued to struggle with Southampton’s direct play and the hosts went ahead after a string of errors, with Stewart controlling and finishing well beyond Kepa after Ben White misjudged a simple cross. 0-1.

The passage of play started with a poor Odegaard backheel, there was too much space in midfield and nowhere near enough urgency to get back across the red shirts – with Stewart on hand to capitalise.

SECOND HALF

Neither side made changes at half time but Arsenal did have a couple of promising second half moments, with Dowman drawing a good block from Manning before Martinelli did well to beat his man and get to the byline but couldn’t find a red shirt in the middle.

But moments later, they were the victims of their own downfall again after Mosquera gave the ball away under no pressure which allowed Fellows through on goal but he fired over with Gabriel recovering well.

That was Arteta’s cue to make his changes and three came at once, with Riccardo Calafiori, Noni Madueke and Viktor Gyokeres replacing Lewis-Skelly, Odegaard and Jesus.

Less than a minute after those changes, Southampton crashed the woodwork after Scienza was allowed time to cut inside and fire at goal – not what Arteta would’ve wanted.

However, the new boys did make an impact off the bench and there was more bite (and pace) to Arsenal’s play, and they helped grab a much-needed equaliser when Gyokeres showed good striker’s instincts to convert from close range after Gabriel played Havertz in behind. 1-1.

More worryingly for Arteta, Gabriel went down with a knee issue and requested treatment before he was replaced by William Saliba. The defender pulled out of the Brazil squad with a knee issue but whether or not this was planned substitution on 70 minutes remains to be seen.

Dowman forced Peretz into another good save after bending one from the edge of the box, before Martinelli found himself free on the edge of the box – after another well worked set piece – but dragged his effort wide when he probably should’ve done better.

Just as Arsenal looked like finishing with a flourish, another poor passage of play ended up with Southampton re-taking the lead through Shea Charles who passed the ball into the bottom corner with defenders at sixes and sevens. 2-1.

The Gunners were frantic in search of their equaliser with Dowman again the source of everything good, although Martinelli and Madueke both fired disappointing efforts at goal after finding themselves in good positions, before Gyokeres smashed a free kick into the wall.

They huffed and puffed but couldn’t blow the Southampton wall down and within the space of two weeks, four competitions becomes two – and their resolve will be tested again after another poor performance.

Losing back-to-back games for the first time this season is not what this group would have hoped for down the stretch.