Arsenal vs Southampton: Arsene Wenger relieved as Santi Cazorla strikes late to see off Saints after fraught affair

Cazorla converted his penalty in the final moments after Fonte was controversially adjudged to have felled Giroud

Arsene Wenger (Getty)

Arsene Wenger, the Arsenal manager, admits he was relieved after Santi Cazorla scored a 94th minute penalty to eventually defeat a stubborn Southampton side at the Emirates.

The Saints took a surprise lead after 18 minutes when Dusan Tadic's free-kick deflected off Petr Cech but Laurent Koscielny, celebrating his 31st birthday, equalised just before the half-hour mark with a superb bicycle-kick.

Cazorla converted his penalty in the final moments after Jose Fonte was controversially adjudged to have felled Olivier Giroud following 60 minutes of strife in front of goal for the hosts.

Speaking at full-time, Wenger said: "It is a relief, because we missed many chances and they had one or two opportunities having thrown everything forward.

"Honestly, everyone is telling me it was a penalty, but I've not yet seen it again.

"There was a long delay before Santi Cazorla took the penalty - he did very well to score because he felt a heavy mental weight for the team.

"He played very well, because he helped us get back into the game after we started not fluent and not pacey.

"I also give Laurent Koscielny a lot of credit - he came back from Russia on Thursday and today he scored when we were 1-0 down. Fantastic."

Arsenal's match-winner Cazorla, meanwhile, added: "I had a lot of time to think about where to shoot my penalty, but I kept calm.

"I thought if I shot down the middle the keeper might go to one side. I have no idea if it was a foul."