Premier League
| Arsenal 3 | |
|---|---|
| Southampton 1 |
- guardian.co.uk, Sunday February 27 2000 18.26 GMT
The master had too many weapons at his disposal for his pupil but it was a closer-run thing than it should have been. After two defeats, Arsène Wenger's Arsenal restored the Premiership's pecking order with a win the margin of which might have been doubled over Glenn Hoddle's Southampton, winners of their previous two games.
Two goals by Fredrik Ljungberg, another by Dennis Bergkamp the filling in the sandwich, broke the resistance of Southampton, who got themselves back into the game with a goal by Dean Richards as Hoddle tried everything he knew to outwit the man who encouraged him to go into management during their days at Monaco.
On paper at least, this looked more the potent Arsenal of recent seasons than it did the outfit that had slipped to defeats by Bradford City and Liverpool in its previous two games. The re-appearance of Tony Adams after seven games out with injury certainly gave them a more formidable aspect. With Nwankwo Kanu also finally back from the African Nations Cup to partner Dennis Bergkamp up front, Arsenal at last looked in good shape and ready for the end of season run-in.
Once, Southampton might have been seen as comfortable opponents against whom to play yourself back into form but, since Hoddle took charge, there is a new organisation and solidity to them. Cannily, he went for a 3-4-3 formation to stretch the Arsenal back four and initially the home side looked uncomfortable.
Indeed, Southampton might have taken the lead with a couple of chances in the first five minutes. Kevin Davies crossed from the left only for James Beattie to head straight at David Seaman, then Dean Richards headed into the side netting from Chris Marsden's free-kick. Duly warned, Arsenal set about restoring the disparity that the table suggests, though it took a while to get their eye in. Kanu had a low shot saved and Fredrik Ljungberg had a 20-yard shot deflected just over the bar. Adams was also denied when Paul Jones saved well his downward header from Bergkamp's corner.
Despite the near misses, the confidence was visibly returning to Arsenal, along with their touch. Lee Dixon robbed Hassan Kachloul in the Southampton player's own half and fed Bergkamp who supplied a delightful through ball between Richards and Jason Dodd for Ljungberg to slot past Jones.
The second was only a matter of time. Jones saved bravely again from Kanu and the Nigerian allowed himself to be robbed by Patrick Colleter after Patrick Vieira and Ljungberg had fashioned an opening. Adams sent Silvinho away on the left with an incisive pass and Bergkamp rose to meet the Brazilian's cross with a firm header from eight yards to round off a splendid movement.
Amid such sweetness of movement, it was curious then how bad blood crept into the game. Kanu's frustration at his inability to convert openings spilled over when he went down for a penalty that was declined then squared up to Francis Benali for accusing him of diving. Soon Marsden and Vieira were both being booked for an altercation in midfield after Mark Hughes had been fouled.
Hoddle re-organised for the second half, switching to a back four, and again Southampton started well as Arsenal adjusted. Indeed, they had pulled a goal back within five minutes, Oakley's accurate corner flicked on by the substitute Claus Lundekvam at the near post and Richards arriving at the far post to head home.
Soon after Saints were forced into more reshuffling, the hobbling Richards being pushed up front since Hoddle had used up his substitutes. Vieira rose with Dodd to Ljungberg's cross but both missed it, as did Jones, and the Swede had restored the two-goal margin. After that, it was a question of whether Kanu could get his goal. As shot after shot sailed wide, though, it was clearly a case of Kanu kan't.
