Southampton 0 Arsenal 1

Last updated : 30 December 2003 By Footymad Previewer

Pires produced the decisive moment of the game as he raced onto a pinpoint pass from man of the match Thierry Henry to hit a first-time shot underneath Antti Niemi ten minutes before the half-time break.

The goal was the winger's ninth of the season and moved Arsenal back to within a point of their arch-rivals going into the new year.

Pires had been Southampton's destroyer when the two sides clashed in last season's FA Cup Final and the match on the south coast produced an identical result with Arsenal running out deserved winners.

Arsene Wenger's side had lost 3-2 at the St Mary's Stadium last season but the only surprise this term was that they failed to win by a bigger margin.

Shots rained in on Niemi's goal right from the first whistle with Henry at the heart of Arsenal's attacking play and it took an outstanding display from Southampton's Finnish goalkeeper to prevent the scoreline being given a more one-sided look.

Niemi somehow denied Henry with a fingertip save in the 14th minute after the Frenchman had run 40 yards before curling a shot from the edge of the area which looked destined for the top right-hand corner.

Henry then set up strike partner Dennis Bergkamp four minutes later after mesmerising three Saints defenders before crossing but the Dutchman somehow put his free header into the side-netting from only six yards out.

Pires, Ray Parlour and Henry again tested Niemi's reflexes before the interval with Southampton's only noteworthy reply coming from a Kevin Phillips shot in the 12th minute which had to be saved at the second attempt by Jens Lehmann.

But it was the same story in the second half with Niemi providing a one-man barrier against the goal-hungry Gunners.

Freddie Ljungberg thought he had extended the advantage on 54 minutes but Niemi somehow saved at full stretch to deny the Swede from ten yards out while Henry again went close with a fizzing right-foot shot which for once had the Southampton goalkeeper beaten.