Both Southampton and Arsenal made 10 changes to their starting line-ups ahead of this fourth round FA Cup clash on Saturday evening.
However, the Gunners’ superior squad strength saw them produce a superb display, with Theo Walcott netting a hat-trick and Danny Welbeck a brace (as well as producing a rather fine ‘saltbae’ celebration).
Saints came into the game on the back of that fantastic EFL Cup semi-final win against Liverpool. However, Claude Puel’s mix-and-match side were outclassed for the full 90 minutes.
Welbeck, making his first start since last May, put the Gunners two goals up courtesy of a couple of superb finishes, the first of which came after a sublime Lucas Perez touch.
Welbeck gives Arsenal the lead with a delightful chip. Brilliant assist from Lucas. 1-0 pic.twitter.com/4pofFtbKGf
— Terje (@TerjeAFCx) January 28, 2017
Welbeck scores his second goal of the night. 2-0 pic.twitter.com/QVLUDlQdEc
— Terje (@TerjeAFCx) January 28, 2017
Welbeck then set up ex-Southampton starlet Walcott to make it 3-0 before the break.
Walcott makes it 3-0 against Southampton pic.twitter.com/yCCnoPlXJ3
— Terje (@TerjeAFCx) January 28, 2017
In the second-half, Southampton tried to get themselves back in the game, only for sub Alexis Sanchez to set up two more goals for Walcott.
Walcott makes it 4-0 Arsenal pic.twitter.com/OmtDLCYO4D
— Terje (@TerjeAFCx) January 28, 2017
Walcott completes his hat-trick. 5-0 pic.twitter.com/XCIOAMQW3Y
— Terje (@TerjeAFCx) January 28, 2017
The game would end 5-0 to the visitors, with another ex-Saint, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain impressing in midfield alongside youngsters Ainsley Maitland-Niles and Jeff Reine-Adelaide.
Arsene Wenger, watching from the stands due to his five-game touchline ban, will have been delighted to see the successful returns of Welbeck and Walcott as well as the mature displays of his younger squad members.
As for Southampton boss Claude Puel, he can now focus on the EFL Cup final clash with Manchester United in just under a month’s time.