This archive report was first published on 25 June 2020.
Arsenal's European hopes were revived on June 25, 2020, as they secured a crucial 2-0 win over Southampton at St Mary's.
The victory lifted Arsenal into ninth place and kept them in the hunt for a Europa League berth, a welcome tonic for manager Mikel Arteta after a dispiriting run of two successive defeats following the Premier League restart.
Arteta's side were handed the opener in the first half when Nketiah punished a howler from Southampton goalkeeper Alex McCarthy, who misdirected a pass that Nketiah pounced on and slotted into the empty net.
Joe Willock doubled Arsenal's lead late in the second half, moments after Southampton's Jack Stephens was sent off for bringing down Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
The win marked a much-needed turnaround for Arsenal, who had suffered a poor away record this season and had been criticized for Arteta's decision to give new contracts to David Luiz and Cedric Soares despite their problems with poor form and injuries respectively.
Against the backdrop of turmoil, Arsenal's success at St Mary's was a welcome respite for Arteta, who had faced criticism for his team's performance.
