Arsenal back to winning ways with 2-0 victory at Saints

Soccer Football - Premier League - Southampton v Arsenal - St Mary's Stadium, Southampton, Britain - June 25, 2020 Arsenal's Bukayo Saka in action with Southampton's James Ward-Prowse, as play resumes behind closed doors following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) Mike Hewitt/Pool via REUTERS

Arsenal claimed their first points since the Premier League restart with a 2-0 victory at Southampton sealed by goals from academy graduates Eddie Nketiah and Joe Willock on Thursday.

Both players seized on mistakes by Saints keeper Alex McCarthy as the Gunners hit back from successive defeats which had left their hopes of a top-four finish in tatters.

McCarthy's casual pass in the 20th minute allowed 21-year-old Nketiah to intercept and walk the ball into an empty net and the keeper was culpable again late on as 20-year-old Willock scored his first Premier League goal.

Soccer Football - Premier League - Southampton v Arsenal - St Mary's Stadium, Southampton, Britain - June 25, 2020 Referee Graham Scott shows a red card to Southampton's Jack Stephens, as play resumes behind closed doors following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) Catherine Ivill/Pool via REUTERS

Defeats at Manchester City and Brighton & Hove Albion had left Arsenal down in 11th place but their victory on the south coast lifted them to ninth with 43 points from 31 games -- eight behind fourth-placed Chelsea who were playing City later.

"We had two very difficult weeks," said Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta, with his side having suffered a last-gasp 2-1 defeat by Brighton after a 3-0 drubbing at Manchester City.

"I was concerned after the defeat at Brighton, it really touched the team but I could see yesterday the reaction was really positive," he added.

Soccer Football - Premier League - Southampton v Arsenal - St Mary's Stadium, Southampton, Britain - June 25, 2020 Southampton's Jack Stephens fouls Arsenal's Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, as play resumes behind closed doors following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) Catherine Ivill/Pool via REUTERS

"Against Brighton we had total control and threw the game away in seven minutes. I know what this team can do when we're at 100 percent but if not we're average."

Arsenal were well worth their halftime lead on the hottest day of the year with Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang striking the crossbar shortly before Nketiah pounced on McCarthy's error.

Southampton's Nathan Redmond fired into the side netting and Shane Long's powerful effort forced a fine save from Emiliano Martinez as the hosts rallied but they had Jack Stephens sent off in the 84th for bringing down Aubameyang.

Soccer Football - Premier League - Southampton v Arsenal - St Mary's Stadium, Southampton, Britain - June 25, 2020 Southampton's Alex McCarthy during the warm up before the match, as play resumes behind closed doors following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) Mike Hewitt/Pool via REUTERS

Willock then made the points safe in the 87th as McCarthy failed to gather a fierce shot. Despite the defeat 14th-placed Saints look safe, 10 points above the relegation zone.

Southampton manager Ralph Hasenhuettl said McCarthy's decision-making needed to improve.

"We know we play more in possession now and this means the goalkeeper as the ball more often and still some things he has to improve, when to play short and long, and that's why these mistakes happen," he said.

Soccer Football - Premier League - Southampton v Arsenal - St Mary's Stadium, Southampton, Britain - June 25, 2020 Southampton's Jan Bednarek in action with Arsenal's Eddie Nketiah, as play resumes behind closed doors following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) Andrew Matthews/Pool via REUTERS

(Reporting by Martyn Herman; Editing by Ken Ferris)

Soccer Football - Premier League - Southampton v Arsenal - St Mary's Stadium, Southampton, Britain - June 25, 2020 Southampton's Yan Valery in action with Arsenal's Bukayo Saka, as play resumes behind closed doors following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) Andrew Matthews/Pool via REUTERS

Soccer Football - Premier League - Southampton v Arsenal - St Mary's Stadium, Southampton, Britain - June 25, 2020 Southampton's Nathan Redmond in action with Arsenal's Bukayo Saka, as play resumes behind closed doors following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) Catherine Ivill/Pool via REUTERS

Soccer Football - Premier League - Southampton v Arsenal - St Mary's Stadium, Southampton, Britain - June 25, 2020 Arsenal's Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang in action, as play resumes behind closed doors following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) Andrew Matthews/Pool via REUTERS

Soccer Football - Premier League - Southampton v Arsenal - St Mary's Stadium, Southampton, Britain - June 25, 2020 Arsenal's Granit Xhaka in action with Southampton's Kyle Walker-Peters, as play resumes behind closed doors following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) Catherine Ivill/Pool via REUTERS

Soccer Football - Premier League - Southampton v Arsenal - St Mary's Stadium, Southampton, Britain - June 25, 2020 Southampton's James Ward-Prowse kneels in support of the Black Lives Matter campaign before the match, as play resumes behind closed doors following the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) Andrew Matthews/Pool via REUTERS