23rd September, 2014
Southampton came from a goal down to inflict a 2-1 defeat on Arsenal in a third round Capital One Cup match played this evening at the Emirates Stadium, with Everton also following the Gunners out of the competition in a 3-0 loss at Swansea City.
Colombian goalkeeper David Ospina was handed his debut for Arsenal while French midfielder Abou Diaby started his first match in 18 months as Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger made 10 changes to the team that won at Aston Villa on Saturday.
Menwhile Sadio Mane made his Southampton debut at the Emirates as manager Ronald Koeman made five changes from the team that won 1-0 at Swansea on Saturday.
The all-Premier League encounter saw Arsenal gain control of match after 14 minutes through Alexis Sanchez who curled in a well struck freekick from 25 yards past a static Fraser Forster in the Southampton goal.
The lead howevee lasted just six minutes as the Saints levelled through Dusan Tadic who converted a penalty after Arsenal midfielder Tomas Rosicky had brought down Mane in the area.
And the visitors took the lead in the 40th minute in stunning fashion through full-back Nathaniel Clyne, who struck a swerving long range effort in off the underside of the crossbar.
Lukas Podolski was denied by Forster two minutes later as Arsenal sought for an equaliser, with the German forward involved in setting up Jack Wilshere whose first-time effort was comfortably saved by Forster as Southampton went into the break 2-1 up.
The Saints had chances to extend their lead in the second half but Ospina saved a weak header by Stephen Davis in the 50th minute before keeping out a low freekick by Tadic on the hour mark.
The introduction of Santi Cazorla and former Southampton player Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain saw Arsenal pile pressure in search of an equaliser but the closest the Gunners came was a Sanchez effort which went straight at Forster as the visitors held on to book a place in the fourth round.
Elsewhere, goals from Nathan Dyer, Gylfi Sigurðsson and Marvin Emnes gave Swansea a 3-0 win at home to Everton, ending a winless streak of 20 matches in all competitions for the Swans against the Merseysiders .
In other Capital One Cup matches, Marc Muniesa scored twice as Stoke City came from a Jozy Altidore goal down to beat Sunderland 2-1 at the Stadium of Light while Fulham began life after sacked manager Felix Magath with a 2-1 win at home to Doncaster Rovers.