Charlie Austin seals dramatic late win on Ralph Hasenhuttl’s home debut to end Arsenal’s long unbeaten run

Southampton 3-2 Arsenal: The brilliant win, which ended Arsenal’s 22 match unbeaten run, was Hasenhuttl’s first since taking over and the Gunners’ first loss in any competition since August

(Getty)

Ralph Hasenhuttl wrote in his pre-match programme notes that he told his players ‘we never lose - either we win, or we learn.’ That did bring the slight sense the Austrian is a friend first, boss second, but the new Southampton manager will presumably be delighted that his side won’t be learning much this week.

The brilliant 3-2 win, which ended Arsenal’s 22 match unbeaten run, was Hasenhuttl’s first since taking over and the Gunners’ first loss in any competition since August. It was sealed in the closing stages by a Charlie Austin header, but it was Liverpool loanee Danny Ings that bagged the first two. Hasenhuttl did a lap of honour at the end, and hugged his coaching staff tightly.

Southampton already look a more purposeful side under Hasenhuttl, which they demonstrated in taking the lead after 20 minutes. Matt Target rapidly fizzed a cross from the left touchline onto the head of Danny Ings, left in a pleasing pocket of space by Laurent Koscielny and Granit Xhaka. The former lost track of the striker, the latter simply stood and watched him head past Bernd Leno.

Hasenhuttl set off down the touchline in celebration, before screeching to a halt and raising his hands in apology as he briefly encroached into the Arsenal technical area. You know how sensitive some people can get about these things.

Saints were looking good, but lost their lead a few minutes later. Nacho Monreal, out of contract in the summer, gave his agent a hand in negotiations by hammering a superb cross from the left byline to Henrikh Mkhitaryan, who guided it into the bottom corner.

Arsenal briefly showed interest in building on that goal, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang denied a tap-in by a crucial late block by Jan Bednarek, but then drifted towards the break like a team who thought another goal would come soon. Which it did, only for Southampton.

Much like the first goal, Ings snaffled just enough space for a header, which he gently looped into the corner of the net from Nathan Redmond’s cross. Koscielny was always going to be a little out of practice, the 72 minutes he played against Qarabag in the Europa League on Thursday the only significant football he’s played since rupturing his Achilles in May, but arguably it was his rustiness that allowed Ings two free headers in just over 20 minutes.

Another defensive injury was the last thing Unai Emery needed, but he used Hector Bellerin limping off just before the break to introduce a little more attacking penetration, replacing the full-back with Alexandre Lacazette.

They immediately looked more dynamic in attack, even if their second equaliser of the game was supremely fortunate. If you ever want a definition of absolute despair, watch a goalkeeper, having dived in the theoretical direction of a shot, watch that shot dribble into the net following a huge deflection. Mkhitaryan was the shooter, Jannik Vestergaard the deflector and Alex McCarthy the prone custodian who looked away in disgust before the ball had reached the goalline.

Saints thought they’d gone ahead for a third time when substitute Shane Long smuggled the ball over the line after a brilliant save from a Maya Yoshida header by Bernd Leno, but he was offside. Arguments may rage about phases of play (the ball came off another player before reaching Long), but he was beyond the last man from Yoshida’s effort.

Mkhitaryan twice drew Arsenal level (Getty)

But not long after Long was involved in the winner, flicking a perfect cross to the back stick were fellow sub Austin was there to head home. An unfamiliar feeling spread throughout the stands: happiness, joy, exuberance. Call it what you will, but it’s better than learning.