• SOUTHAMPTON RATINGS: Forster 10 – Single-handedly kept Arsenal at bay. He made two sensational stops in the first 20 minutes, first low to his right to deny Martinelli, and then high to his right to keep out Saka. In the second half, keep out Xhaka, Nketiah and Saka. Sensational. Getty
    SOUTHAMPTON RATINGS: Forster 10 – Single-handedly kept Arsenal at bay. He made two sensational stops in the first 20 minutes, first low to his right to deny Martinelli, and then high to his right to keep out Saka. In the second half, keep out Xhaka, Nketiah and Saka. Sensational. Getty
  • Yan Valery 6 – Made a superb block when he took a shot from Nketiah into the midriff shortly after the break. Was guilty of some hurried clearances, and was sometimes caught on the ball. Getty
    Yan Valery 6 – Made a superb block when he took a shot from Nketiah into the midriff shortly after the break. Was guilty of some hurried clearances, and was sometimes caught on the ball. Getty
  • Jan Bednarek 8 – Scored the only goal of the game when he found himself in the right place at the right time to lash home from close range. He also won all his battles and a made a series of interceptions and clearances. Getty
    Jan Bednarek 8 – Scored the only goal of the game when he found himself in the right place at the right time to lash home from close range. He also won all his battles and a made a series of interceptions and clearances. Getty
  • Kyle Walker-Peters 6 – His speed was a good counter to the threat of Saka and Martinelli. Though Arsenal’s attacking duo looked dangerous in the first 20 minutes, Walker-Peters did well thereafter. Getty
    Kyle Walker-Peters 6 – His speed was a good counter to the threat of Saka and Martinelli. Though Arsenal’s attacking duo looked dangerous in the first 20 minutes, Walker-Peters did well thereafter. Getty
  • Oriol Romeu 6 – Having struggled against Chelsea a week earlier, Romeu worked tirelessly to keep possession better, and he certainly got the better of Arsenal’s weak midfield. Getty
    Oriol Romeu 6 – Having struggled against Chelsea a week earlier, Romeu worked tirelessly to keep possession better, and he certainly got the better of Arsenal’s weak midfield. Getty
  • James Ward-Prowse 6 – There is more to the England midfielder than set pieces, but his corners were a constant menace. AFP
    James Ward-Prowse 6 – There is more to the England midfielder than set pieces, but his corners were a constant menace. AFP
  • Romain Perraud 7 – Had a speculative effort from 20 yards which was blocked for a Saints corner. On the whole, though, Southampton look more comfortable and composed with the Frenchman on the left. PA
    Romain Perraud 7 – Had a speculative effort from 20 yards which was blocked for a Saints corner. On the whole, though, Southampton look more comfortable and composed with the Frenchman on the left. PA
  • Stuart Armstrong 8 – Received a standing ovation when he left the field and deservedly so, for he worked tirelessly in attack. He was all over the pitch completing his defensive duties. Getty
    Stuart Armstrong 8 – Received a standing ovation when he left the field and deservedly so, for he worked tirelessly in attack. He was all over the pitch completing his defensive duties. Getty
  • Mohamed Elyounoussi 7 – Did well to keep the ball in play for the opening goal. He didn’t give up on a ball that seemed destined to creep over the goal line, and his pull back found Bednarek, who scored. Led a late breakaway but wasted possession. AP
    Mohamed Elyounoussi 7 – Did well to keep the ball in play for the opening goal. He didn’t give up on a ball that seemed destined to creep over the goal line, and his pull back found Bednarek, who scored. Led a late breakaway but wasted possession. AP
  • Armando Broja 7 – Teased the Arsenal defence in the opening stages, getting the better of Ben White. Always a threat on the ball. Getty
    Armando Broja 7 – Teased the Arsenal defence in the opening stages, getting the better of Ben White. Always a threat on the ball. Getty
  • ARSENAL RATINGS: Aaron Ramsdale 5 – Ramsdale had little to do until he picked the ball out of his net. He managed to get a hand to Bednarek’s effort, but there was simply too much power. Reuters
    ARSENAL RATINGS: Aaron Ramsdale 5 – Ramsdale had little to do until he picked the ball out of his net. He managed to get a hand to Bednarek’s effort, but there was simply too much power. Reuters
  • Ben White 5 – The central defender was sluggish in possession and he found Broja a handful at times. Getty
    Ben White 5 – The central defender was sluggish in possession and he found Broja a handful at times. Getty
  • Gabriel Magalhaes 6 – Was guilty of playing the Saints forward line onside for the goal, but he was one of Arsenal’s better players, breaking the lines with his passing. Getty
    Gabriel Magalhaes 6 – Was guilty of playing the Saints forward line onside for the goal, but he was one of Arsenal’s better players, breaking the lines with his passing. Getty
  • Bukayo Saka 6 – Had a glorious chance to give Arsenal the lead but his effort – with the goal at his mercy – was tipped over the bar by Forster. Was a constant danger, but couldn’t find a way past Forster. Getty
    Bukayo Saka 6 – Had a glorious chance to give Arsenal the lead but his effort – with the goal at his mercy – was tipped over the bar by Forster. Was a constant danger, but couldn’t find a way past Forster. Getty
  • Martin Odegaard 5 – The skipper failed to create much in the final third, though he saw an effort from the area well saved late on. Getty
    Martin Odegaard 5 – The skipper failed to create much in the final third, though he saw an effort from the area well saved late on. Getty
  • Cedric Soares 4 – A poor display from the former Saints man, who was particularly wasteful from set pieces. AP
    Cedric Soares 4 – A poor display from the former Saints man, who was particularly wasteful from set pieces. AP
  • Nuno Tavares 4 – Taken off for Nicolas Pepe in the second half, he started well but lost his way as the game went on. Getty
    Nuno Tavares 4 – Taken off for Nicolas Pepe in the second half, he started well but lost his way as the game went on. Getty
  • Albert Sambi Lokonga 4 – Lost possession on numerous occasions and was guilty of slowing the play when he brought the ball out from deep positions. Getty
    Albert Sambi Lokonga 4 – Lost possession on numerous occasions and was guilty of slowing the play when he brought the ball out from deep positions. Getty
  • Eddie Nketiah 6 – Worked hard in leading the line but had to wait until late on for his first effort on goal, which was thwarted by Forster. AFP
    Eddie Nketiah 6 – Worked hard in leading the line but had to wait until late on for his first effort on goal, which was thwarted by Forster. AFP
  • Granit Xhaka 5 – Xhaka played much better when he was given more freedom to roam forward in the second half. He had an effort from range which troubled Forster, but not enough to catch him out. PA
    Granit Xhaka 5 – Xhaka played much better when he was given more freedom to roam forward in the second half. He had an effort from range which troubled Forster, but not enough to catch him out. PA
  • Gabriel Martinelli 6 – Despite starting on an unfamiliar right-hand side he always looked a threat. He bookended Arsenal’s performance with chances at the beginning and end of the game. Reuters
    Gabriel Martinelli 6 – Despite starting on an unfamiliar right-hand side he always looked a threat. He bookended Arsenal’s performance with chances at the beginning and end of the game. Reuters
  • SUBS: Emile Smith-Rowe (Soares, 60) 6 – Though he brought a greater sense of urgency to Arsenal’s attack, he couldn’t fashion an equaliser for his side. Reuters
    SUBS: Emile Smith-Rowe (Soares, 60) 6 – Though he brought a greater sense of urgency to Arsenal’s attack, he couldn’t fashion an equaliser for his side. Reuters
  • Nicolas Pepe (Tavares, 70) N/A – The Frenchman’s lively cameo will have had Gunners fans scratching their heads as to why he didn’t start. PA
    Nicolas Pepe (Tavares, 70) N/A – The Frenchman’s lively cameo will have had Gunners fans scratching their heads as to why he didn’t start. PA

Sport

Football

Southampton v Arsenal ratings: Forster 10, Bednarek 8; Soares 4, Saka 6

Arteta's team's hopes of Champions League qualification suffer setback after 1-0 defeat

Nick Judd

April 17, 2022

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Arsenal’s hopes of qualifying for the Champions League suffered another setback after they lost to Southampton 1-0 on Saturday.

Tottenham’s defeat to Brighton on Saturday offered the Gunners the chance to move level on points with their fourth-placed north London rivals.

However Mikel Arteta’s men blew a major opportunity to capitalise on Saturday as Jan Bednarek’s strike on the stroke of half-time condemned them to a fourth defeat in five games.

Arteta admitted Arsenal's players were dejected.

"They are really down today and they are down because they cannot find the right answer - apart from what we can do better around the box - not to win that match," Arteta said of his squad.

"And that's the frustration. When somebody's better, you shake their hands and you have to be critical with yourself.

"But, apart from 25 minutes against Palace and some periods against Brighton in the first half, it's very difficult to explain and accept."

Player ratings from the match can be seen in the picture gallery above. To view the next image, click on the arrows or swipe if on a mobile device.

How to play the stock market recovery in 2021?

If you are looking to build your long-term wealth in 2021 and beyond, the stock market is still the best place to do it as equities powered on despite the pandemic.

Investing in individual stocks is not for everyone and most private investors should stick to mutual funds and ETFs, but there are some thrilling opportunities for those who understand the risks.

Peter Garnry, head of equity strategy at Saxo Bank, says the 20 best-performing US and European stocks have delivered an average return year-to-date of 148 per cent, measured in local currency terms.

Online marketplace Etsy was the best performer with a return of 330.6 per cent, followed by communications software company Sinch (315.4 per cent), online supermarket HelloFresh (232.8 per cent) and fuel cells specialist NEL (191.7 per cent).

Mr Garnry says digital companies benefited from the lockdown, while green energy firms flew as efforts to combat climate change were ramped up, helped in part by the European Union’s green deal. 

Electric car company Tesla would be on the list if it had been part of the S&P 500 Index, but it only joined on December 21. “Tesla has become one of the most valuable companies in the world this year as demand for electric vehicles has grown dramatically,” Mr Garnry says.

By contrast, the 20 worst-performing European stocks fell 54 per cent on average, with European banks hit by the economic fallout from the pandemic, while cruise liners and airline stocks suffered due to travel restrictions.

As demand for energy fell, the oil and gas industry had a tough year, too.

Mr Garnry says the biggest story this year was the “absolute crunch” in so-called value stocks, companies that trade at low valuations compared to their earnings and growth potential.

He says they are “heavily tilted towards financials, miners, energy, utilities and industrials, which have all been hit hard by the Covid-19 pandemic”. “The last year saw these cheap stocks become cheaper and expensive stocks have become more expensive.” 

This has triggered excited talk about the “great value rotation” but Mr Garnry remains sceptical. “We need to see a breakout of interest rates combined with higher inflation before we join the crowd.”

Always remember that past performance is not a guarantee of future returns. Last year’s winners often turn out to be this year’s losers, and vice-versa.

Updated: April 17, 2022, 5:23 AM
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