With 51 minutes gone on the clock, though, it was the visitors who broke the deadlock and in clinical fashion as Ramsey slipped Walcott in behind for the forward to then pick out Gibbs at the far-post, with the full-back running in to thump the ball into the roof of the net
Browsing: Arsenal
The 17-year-old was one of several youth players taken on the Gunners’ travels and he enjoyed a successful tour after scoring four goals in four matches
Gunners manager, Arsene Wenger, however, was not prepared to go straight into offering the 22-year-old a deal, preferring instead to get a first-hand look at the defender’s capabilities, a request Oboabona feels is beneath him
Wenger will look to bring in further established stars this summer and will feel that the capture of Higuain will aid in that regard, with the signing of a big name helping to prove that the Gunners do have the ambition, and the means, to improve their squad in a push to challenge for major honours
The Gunners just had to win at St James’ Park to ensure their spot in the top four and made no mistake on Tyneside
Lukas Podolski capitalised on some woeful defending to hand the home side an early lead while a Shaun Maloney free-kick drew the visitors level before the break
Arsenal have no new injury worries with Arsene Wenger’s only selection dilemma being whether to select Kieran Gibbs or Nacho Monreal at left-back, while Jack Wilshere is also fighting to be given the nod over Tomas Rosicky
It was, though, Arsenal – without suspended forward Olivier Giroud – who raced into the lead as Theo Walcott beat the offside trap to fire the hosts ahead inside two minutes
Arsenal’s last game at the Emirates Stadium was 4-1 demolition of Reading, a result that further boosted Wenger’s quest for Champions League slot
John Terry capitalised on poor Southampton marking to equalise at a corner, but within two minutes, Lambert restored Saints’ lead prior to half-time, slamming home a wonderful free-kick
Olivier Giroud’s 15th goal of the season for the Gunners, following Theo Walcott’s cross, gave them a dream start
The pre-tournament favourites were knocked out of the Africa Cup of Nations at the quarter-final stage earlier this month, after losing 2-1 to eventual winners Nigeria
Despite the profits fall, cash reserves rose to £123 million from £115 million
Elsewhere, Wigan ran riot at the Madejski Stadium to enhance their survival prospects at the expense of Reading – as Norwich dented Everton’s slipping European ambitions with a come-from-behind home win and Romelu Lukaku guided West Brom to victory over Sunderland
The Gunners, who crashed out of the FA Cup at home to Blackburn at the weekend, were behind after only seven minutes when midfielder Toni Kroos hammered home a shot from the edge of the box
Arsenal’s hope of a silverware after eight years of drought was shattered at the weekend as lowly rated Blackburn stunned the Arsene Wenger side at the Emirates Stadium in the fifth round of the FA Cup
And it means that Arsene Wenger’s team have only the Champions League left if they are to win silverware this season
Frank Lampard moved to within four goals of becoming Chelsea’s all-time leading scorer to help his side record back-to-back EPL home wins for the first time since October
Arsenal will continue its battle for Champions League slot when Stoke City visit the Emirates Stadium in one of the Saturday’s fixtures while relegation haunted QPR entertain Norwich
Manchester City will welcome Leeds, who knocked out Tottenham on Sunday, at the Etihad Stadium, while Liverpool’s conquerors, Oldham, will face another Merseyside club in Everton