Arsenal back in top half as they punish errors by McCarthy

SOUTHAMPTON 0 ARSENAL 2

Southampton goalkeeper Alex McCarthy endured a night to forget as Arsenal returned to winning ways with victory over 10-man Saints yesterday.

The Gunners had lost their previous two games since the return of the Premier League but a goal apiece for Eddie Nketiah and Joe Willock earned Mikel Arteta’s side a 2-0 victory at St Mary’s.

McCarthy gifted Nketiah the ball for the opener and, after

Jack Stephens was dismissed for a late foul on Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, he failed to hold an Alexandre Lacazette strike as Willock gobbled up the chance.

Having lost at Manchester City and Brighton since the resumption of the season, the three points were enough to take Arsenal back into the top-half.

Midfielder Matteo Guendouzi surprisingly escaped Football Association punishment having grabbed Brighton match-winner Neal Maupay by the throat at full-time of their last contest – but he was not included in Arteta’s 20-man squad as the Spanish coach picked up his first Premier League away win as manager.

BURNLEY 1 WATFORD 0

Jay Rodriguez gave Burnley cause for cheer after a tough week on and off the pitch as his 50th Clarets goal earned a 1-0 win over Watford.

The evening started with the club delivering another forceful response to the ‘White Lives Matter Burnley’ banner flown over their 5-0 defeat at Manchester City on Monday night, while Sean Dyche awoke to headlines questioning his future at the club as he played down suggestions of a rift with the board.

But Rodriguez’s stooping header earned three big points for his hometown club and kept Watford hovering just above the relegation zone.

Arsenal players celebrate after Joe Willock made it 2-0.