Southampton 1-2 Arsenal: Odegaard's late winner seals victory after Tierney's send-off

Kieran Tierney scored on his final Arsenal appearance as Martin Odegard's 90th minute winner sealed victory at Southampton 

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta opted to play Kieran Tierney in tribute to what was his final game for the club he has served with such distinction.

It was a nice touch to start a game that had absolutely nothing riding on it. The Gunners all but sealing second spot after their 1-0 win over Newcastle United last weekend, which confirmed their participation in next season’s Champions League.

In the same vein, Saints opted to hand their captain’s armband to Aaron Ramsdale in a nod to his service for the north Londoners.

With the action elsewhere this weekend, most noticeably in Lisbon as the club’s magnificent women’s side did something Arteta’s team most noticeably failed to do, which was lift the Champions League.

Perhaps the men’s boss had more time to ponder on counterpart Renée Slegers’ outstanding efforts while sat next to Josh Kroenke in the St Mary’s stands, serving his one match touchline ban, picked up after a yellow card last week against the Magpies saw him trigger the needless suspension.

On 23 minutes Mikel Merino’s header thudded against David Raya’s bar from Gabi Martinelli’s cross. Three minutes later Thomas Partey fired in a long shot which Ramsdale gathered comfortably.

On the half hour Matteus Fernandes crossed for Ross Stewart to head wide. Unsurprisingly, given that the unfortunate 28-year-old Scottish forward hadn't scored since January 2023.

Five minutes before half time Ramsdale saved from Martinelli after a long punt forward from Tierney, with Alex Zinchenko firing narrowly wide after the ball was recycled following the subsequent corner.

As the game appeared to be heading to the interval goalless, Ben White’s cross saw Tierney slot home from close range to put the Gunners 1-0 up on 43 minutes. It was popular goal among teammates and the travelling Arsenal support for Tierney is a well-respected member of the squad.

Seven minutes after the break Ramsdale saved from Ethan Nwaneri, who can be extremely proud of his breakthrough season, the precocious 17-year-old netting an highly impressive nine goals including notable Champions League strikes.

However, Saints, who narrowly avoided picking up the worst team in Premier League history when eclipsing Derby County’s unwanted 11 points, drove forward in a bid to end their dismal relegation season on a high.

On 55 minutes Saints Jay Robinson powered into the box before unleashing a testing effort that Raya palmed away.

Arsenal failed to heed the warning, and a minute later the home side were level, Stewart equalising for Southampton to make it 1-1, as the home support erupted in joy under sunny south coast skies.

Shortly afterwards, Tierney was substituted to huge applause from the Arsenal contingent, after playing what will surely be his final game for the club before returning to his spiritual home in Glasgow, Celtic Park, to once appear in green and white for his beloved Celtic next season.

As the clock ticked down Lewis-Skelly lost possession, the talented teenager who intermittently dances in the foothills of danger lost possession as the home side drove forward but the chance was lost.

Arsenal swept up the other end, with substitute Odegaard working space on the edge of the area to drill home a low shot that evaded former colleague Ramsdale to put Arteta’s side 2-1 up in the 90th minute. And that was that.