Premier League - Southampton vs. Arsenal: Gunners women s football team wins the Champions League again 18 years later, men s football team is missing

In the early morning of May 25, in the Women's Champions League final, Arsenal Women's Football Team defeated the defending champion Barcelona Women's Football Team 1:0, and reached the top of Europe after 18 years!

And the Arsenal men's football team, he was eliminated by Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League semi-finals, and ranked second in the Premier League, which is another season where all four major players are missing! In the 34th round of the Premier League, Liverpool defeated Tottenham 5:1 at home and secured the championship with 82 points. Arsenal coach Arteta expressed dissatisfaction with this, "Winning the championship requires both strength and luck. Liverpool's winning points are lower than our points in the past two seasons. If we base our score performance in the past two years, we should have won two Premier League trophys."

Arsenal, which has three consecutive games, has 84 points in the 2022-23 season and 89 points in the 2023-24 season. After 37 rounds of this season, Arsenal only has 71 points, and defeated the bottom team Southampton away in the last round, with only 74 points.

Southampton vs Arsenal

Nature of the match: Premier League round 38

Match time: May 25, 23:00

Southampton, who returned to the Premier League, locked in a relegation place early, and the team collapsed completely on both ends of offense and defense: the number of goals scored (25 goals) and the number of goals conceded (84 goals) ranked last in the league. The Gunners have balanced offense and defense this season, ranking third with 67 goals, and the lowest with 33 goals conceded.

The Saints' injury wave has made it even worse. Main goalkeeper Bazunu (menis injured), defenders Taylor, Walker Peters, Bednarek and Baylis are all absent due to injuries, and almost no one is available in the midfield and backcourt. Only young players such as Archer are left to support the front line, but his performance this season is mediocre and it is difficult to pose a threat to Arsenal's defense.

Although the Gunners have multiple main players injured (Gabriel, Jesus, Fu'an Jianyang, etc.), the lineup is deep enough to deal with it. The wide attacks between Saka and Martinelli and the midfield controls between Rice and Odge are still the key to winning.

Southampton's tactical system this season is almost ineffective, especially after losing the main central defender, defensive loopholes appear frequently. The team conceded as many as 2.27 goals per game, and it may be difficult to resist against Arsenal's high-pressure and infiltration on the wing. The Saints' offense is also weak, and the efficiency of averaging 0.68 goals per game is difficult to threaten the Gunners' solid defense line.

Arsenal continues Arteta's ball-control and oppressive style, with an excellent away record this season (8 wins, 8 draws and 2 losses). Saka and Martinelli's breakthrough on the wing and Havertz's connection in the middle will become a weapon to tear the opponent's defense. In addition, the Gunners' set-piece threat is significant, and Southampton's high-altitude defense shortcomings may be hit again.

In the last 6 league matches between the two sides, Arsenal has an absolute advantage in 3 wins, 2 draws and 1 loss. In the last match (October 2024), the Gunners won 3-1 at home. Although Southampton defeated Arsenal at home in the 2021-22 season, the team was still in the middle of the Premier League at that time, and now the morale and strength are incomparable.

Gunners have 2 wins, 2 draws and 1 loss in the last 5 away games. Facing the underdogs, three-pointers are the only goal. Saka and Martinelli's speed advantage may become the key to breaking the situation.

has been relegated, and the Saints may send young players to practice, but home fans are still looking forward to the team saying goodbye to the Premier League with a positive attitude. If Archer and other young players seize the opportunity to fight back, they may be able to create surprises.

In this battle, Arsenal easily defeated his opponent and ended the Premier League journey this season, which is no problem.