Captain Martin Odegaard struck a terrific 90th-minute winner as Arsenal survived a scare to defeat Southampton 2-1 on the final day of the Premier League season.
With both sides' fates sealed - or in Arsenal's case virtually sealed - Mikel Arteta and Simon Rusk, whose successor Will Still was watching on, unsurprisingly went experimental for their end-of-season XIs.
A Kamaldeen Sulemana-inspired Saints side had their moments, but the visitors drew first blood on the cusp of half time, where the departing Kieran Tierney bagged his first goal for the club since November 2022 on his final appearance.
However, Arsenal's dead-ball failings soon came to the fore again, as Tierney's compatriot Ross Stewart brought the hosts level, and the doomed hosts were looking good for a share of the spoils as the clock wound down.
Arteta had other ideas, though, as the Arsenal boss sent on the cavalry for the closing stages of the Premier League season, and captain Odegaard restored their lead in the 90th minute with a drive from distance.
The Scandinavian's strike was the telling one as the Gunners made sure of a third straight silver medal, while Southampton will at least head back down to the Championship without the worst Premier League points total in history.
SPORTS MOLE'S VERDICT
© Imago
Arsenal's second-placed standing was never in serious jeopardy thanks to their superior goal difference over Manchester City, and a less-than-dominant display against the Saints should not be of too much concern given the lineup Arteta put out.
From Tierney's emotional final goal to another electric display from Ethan Nwaneri, there were undoubtedly more positives than negatives for the Gunners, who in reality have been waiting for the domestic season to end ever since Liverpool were crowned champions.
While set-piece frailties did rear their ugly heads again, Arsenal have remarkably gone through the season without conceding more than twice in any game, a feat only Manchester United had achieved before in the Premier League era.
The same is true of Southampton ever since they were officially condemned to tier-two football, and defeat on Sunday was their 30th of the Premier League season, another new unwanted record which tells the story of their disastrous campaign.
SOUTHAMPTON VS. ARSENAL HIGHLIGHTS
43rd min: Southampton 0-1 Arsenal (Kieran Tierney)
What a finish 🤩 pic.twitter.com/1fU8B10Ptl
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) May 25, 2025
Everyone liked that.
On his final appearance for the Gunners before he heads back to Celtic this summer, Tierney breaks the deadlock just shy of half time, meeting Ben White's cross to the near post with an exquisite first-time finish low into Aaron Ramsdale's goal.
The Scotsman lets emotion take over, and rightfully so - there is no more popular scorer on the pitch among Arsenal players.
56th min: Southampton 1-1 Arsenal (Ross Stewart)
You deserve that moment, Ross ❤️ pic.twitter.com/HFm6pBffG1
— Southampton FC (@SouthamptonFC) May 25, 2025
So often heralded for their ability to score from set-pieces, Arsenal now cannot stop conceding from them.
The Scotsmen are shining at St Mary's today, as Stewart rises highest to nod Mateus Fernandes's corner into the top corner and bring the hosts level.
90th min: Southampton 1-2 Arsenal (Martin Odegaard)
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) May 25, 2025
A captain's contribution right at the death, and Arsenal are surely going to end the season with all three points!
So often the Norwegian has been criticised for not pulling the trigger, and this is a terrific example of why he should do so more often, firing in a wonderful strike from 25 yards to sink the Saints.
MAN OF THE MATCH - KIERAN TIERNEY
© Imago
Few players were more deserving of a goal than Arsenal's long-serving Scotsman, who momentarily channelled his inner centre-forward to score for the Gunners one last time in the first half.
Also excelling in all facets of the game from a centre-back role, Tierney won both of his aerial duels and completed 96% of his passes, and Celtic are very lucky indeed to be welcoming him home.
SOUTHAMPTON VS. ARSENAL MATCH STATS
Possession: Southampton 39%-61% Arsenal
Shots: Southampton 7-23 Arsenal
Shots on target: Southampton 2-8 Arsenal
Corners: Southampton 5-8 Arsenal
Fouls: Southampton 7-8 Arsenal
BEST STATS
Kieran Tierney's first half by numbers vs. Southampton:
— Squawka Live (@Squawka_Live) May 25, 2025
41/42 passes completed
4/4 duels won
3 clearances
2x possession won
2/2 aerial duels won
2 touches in opp. box
1 shot
1 successful take-on
1 goal
His first PL goal since Boxing Day 2021. ⚽️#SOUARS pic.twitter.com/TQTqQTfI3e
WHAT NEXT?
As Arteta said last weekend, the men upstairs have to do what they have to do at Arsenal, who have potentially their most crucial summer in recent memory ahead of them as they finally aim to get over the line next term.
Meanwhile, Rusk prepares to hand the reins over to Still at Southampton, who will be managed by one Europe's most highly-rated young coaches in 2025-26, offering optimism of a swift return to the big time.
Ben Knapton
