Live Player Ratings: Southampton 1-2 Arsenal 

Find out who impressed with our Live Player Ratings after Arsenal beat Southampton 2-1 in their final match of the 2024-25 season 

David Raya: 7.5/10 - money for nothing……Awww man, 1-1 56 minutes. Well beaten by a towering header from the corner, which induces a rousing cry of when the Saints Go Marching In from the home fans. Briefly I might add.

Ben White: 7.5/10 - lovely assist for Kieran Tierney's opener. I can see him in Oceans in Ibiza already, cosying up to Wayne Lineker, another job done for another year, silverware next year BW4 please. And please lay off the P*rn Star Martinis. PS: skinned on 45 minutes, View From The Armchair will be back in 2025-26 with BW4 Skinnedwatch, live on the final whistle...

Jakub Kiwior: 7.5/10 - good job in an unfamiliar set up, found himself as our main man at the back today, having wondered if he will get a look in at all the start of the season. Could be a hidden message for Tierney? Basically don’t leave us KT.

Kieran Tierney: 9/10 - MOTM playing his last game for the Gunners at centre-back, did well in an unfamiliar position, rarely gave the ball away,as usual delivering his trademark whipped in crosses, when out on the left, his versatility might well be missed. Will be sad to see him go. In fact why are we letting him go? Swept home beautifully on 42 mins to make it One Nil To The Arsenal. It’s settled he’s going nowhere I insist.

Alex Zinchenko: 7.5/10 - his ageing bones, just about carrying him up and down the pitch, probably pinching himself he’s still picking up a crust doing this for a living,shot inches wide from far out on 41 minutes. Blocked well on 66, as likely as anyone to get the winner for us until he was pulled off on 69 mins.

Thomas Partey: 7.5/10 - solid work, mostly forgotten and taken for granted by most, not so much here. I rate Partey highly and admire his work, on and off the ball. Unleashed a fizzer on 26 minutes that Ramsdale held onto, closed the game out as centre back to display his versatility for us.

Declan Rice: 8/10 - captain for the first time, will be desperate to get his hands on some silverware next season. If you are feeling a little bit disgruntled from this seasons fare, spare a thought for today’s opposing captain, Ramsdale, took one for the team when he joined this woeful lot. Rice started moving the ball fluidly in the second half when the better players arrived around him, excited to see what he delivers for us next year.

Mikel Merino: 7/10 - he’s never in a game when I watch him and then he appears and normally delivers something decisive. He did nothing in the first half, so I was expecting at least a brace in the second half. Alas, I was left expecting.

Ethan Nwaneri: 8/10 - so keen to get it underway he forgot to take the knee at kick off, showed some lovely touches early on, as much to gain as anyone from an appearance today, expecting big things from him next year, tried his best to get on the scoresheet. Bonus point for the box fresh skin fade he rocked up with today.

Raheem Sterling: 5/10 - playing his last outing for the gunners,shot narrowly wide on six mins, mostly ran into brick walls in the same way the little normal humans  do against the goliath Gladiators do on Saturday night TV. Repeatedly had his pocket money nicked off him in Arsenal colours, almost written in the stars he is going to score a massively decisive winner for a minnow against us in the future, retire now please.

Gabi Martinelli:  7.5/10 - should have scored when put clean through one on one against Ramsdale just before half time by Tierney, always a threat with his crafty footwork, he could be the answer we need up front in rotation maybe with Isak next year? You may say I’m a dreamer, but I’m not the only one.

Substitutes:

Leo Trossard: 7/10 - 69 mins our Belgian goal machine, frustratingly not at the races straight away after coming on, nicked his wages this week. However, after his assist for Odegaard's late winner, I’m now happy to look away as he’s earnt it.

Bukayo Saka: 7/10 - On for Sterling after 61 minutes. Loving the vibes of Saka linking up with Nwaneri on the right next year, see who can cut in and score the most pearlers with the left peg when they were on together briefly.

Kai Havertz: 7/10 - Replaced Martinelli on 71 minutes. He’s not one to get the blood pumping when he comes off the bench, more likely to deliver the goods when on from the start I feel, can he ever be the striker we need up front? Time will tell, we still need an out and out finisher (Isak basically)

Myles Lewis Skelly: 7.5/10 - Came on for Zinchenko on 70 minutes, the future permanent fixture of this Arsenal midfield, was his usual tenacious self when he arrived. Bonus point for being the coolest cat in the yard at 18 years of age.

Martin Odegaard: 8.5/10 - Oi Oi here comes our Rolls Royce, straight on with the armband, will be looking forward to a rest after an injury riddled season disrupted his dominant imperious best form this year, ya gotta love him. Bonus point for a screamer on 89 minutes, 2-1 Arsenal.

Crowd watch - testimonial feel to this one, a chance to have a gaze around the stands, focus on that big lump eating what seems to be his third pie, the bald fella who might be needing a bit of after sun tonight, always good fun ain’t it?! Safe travels home Gooners, a true end of season football match if ever I did see one, a 2-1 last day away win. Big ups you lot you are the true heroes, home and away, incredible. 

Well done to all the travelling Gooners for singing Aaron Ramsdale’s name after Arsenal beat Southampton 2-1 here at St Mary’s pic.twitter.com/z2II6xcEnV

— Layth (@laythy29) May 25, 2025