Pires provides perfect pick-me-up for Arsenal

Southampton 0 Arsenal

As an anniversary present for his five years as manager of Arsenal, and coming shortly before a return to European competition, Arsène Wenger could hardly have received a gift more timely than this complete and humiliating victory over a Southampton side still searching for their first home win at St Mary's Stadium, a venue which is quickly becoming a vindictive white elephant.

So much has been made of Arsenal's suggested problems this season that their considerable chance of making use of Manchester United's preoccupation with winning the Champions' League in Sir Alex Ferguson's last season at the helm has perhaps been underplayed. After all, in spite of disciplinary problems, failure in Europe, an injury to the inspirational Tony Adams and rumours linking Patrick Vieira with Juventus, they remain a formidable force.

Yesterday, they were an irresistible one. As Southampton's manager, Stuart Gray, admitted: "It was a 2-0 drubbing. It proved that we need to get in some fresh faces. The money is available and we have identified the players."

Having conceded only two goals away, Arsenal had every right to anticipate that, in spite of appearing for the first time since December 1985 without any of the old rearguard of Seaman (injured), Dixon (injured), Winterburn (departed), Bould (retired), Adams (injured) and Keown (suspended), they had enough cover to blanket Southampton. In the event it was almost unnecessary to rush Sol Campbell back into action after his leg injury. Wenger rightly praised his young players for confidently replacing an institution.

He particularly commended Campbell for his mobility and pace but, in truth, Southampton were never much of a threat even before being reduced to 10 men.

After five minutes Arsenal unwound the Southampton back line and at the same time tied it in knots. Fredrik Ljungberg won the ball in midfield and offered Thierry Henry the chance to beat a path towards haphazardly retreating defenders. Henry's pass left Robert Pires with only a despairing Paul Jones to beat, which he did with a curling, cunning low shot.

The easy confidence with which Arsenal continued to taunt the Saints defence made it seem inevitable that the lead would quickly be doubled. And so it should have been in the 21st minute. Ljungberg again founded a flowing move which ended with Sylvain Wiltord slashing the ball against the post and seeing it rebound to Henry, whom he had every right to see exploit an practically open goal, which had Jones worriedly trying to wall it up alone. Unbelievably, Henry slid the ball beyond the far post.

A plaintive plea for handball and a penalty against Campbell, who had no intention of offending, summarised South-ampton's sense of needing a lot of favours. Kevin Davies lobbed Southampton's first serious chance only a shade high and wide, and immediately Arsenal responded, with Ljungberg clipping the foot of a post. Southampton's defence relentlessly jeopardised every attempt at recovery in midfield.

So Arsenal were again facing a second half in which they had reason to believe they could win well. Southampton had rarely been first to the ball, lost it with alarming predictability and defended like strangers. Not only were Arsenal dominant, their athleticism made most of their opponents look as stiff as lead soldiers.

In desperation, Southampton replaced Matthew Oakley and Anders Svensson with Jo Tessem and Stuart Ripley, but their situation soon deteriorated. Chris Marsden lunged with both feet at Vieira who, being near the halfway line, was not posing a great danger. The referee, Brian Barber, issued a yellow card, then a red, to Marsden.

Had Arsenal failed to build on their lead, Wenger would have had real cause for concern. Relief came in the 73rd minute, when Henry was given ample time to juggle into a shooting position, albeit outside the penalty area. His shot took a horrible deflection off Ripley that sent the ball past Jones at the near post. Southampton may not have deserved much for their ineptitude, but ill-luck compounded their discomfort.

Southampton 0 Arsenal 2

Pires 5, Henry 74

Half-time: 0-1 Attendance: 29,759