Arsenal put a forgettable week behind them as they recorded their first post-lockdown victory on Thursday evening, beating Southampton 2-0 at St Mary's.
Goals either side of the half time interval from Eddie Nketiah, who pounced on an Alex McCarthy howler, and Joe Willock sealed a much-needed victory for Mikel Arteta's side, putting a run of two successive defeats behind them in the process.
Though Arsenal still have a long way to go before they can even begin to consider competing for a top-four finish again, they did, at least, close the gap on eighth-placed Sheffield United, who they face in the FA Cup quarter-finals at Bramall Lane on Sunday, to a single point, as well as reducing the gap on Tottenham Hotspur to two points.
But after such disappointing results against Manchester City and Brighton & Hove Albion, the win over the Saints will have slightly eased the pressure mounting on Arteta's shoulders.
Here, football.london has taken a close look at what the national media made to the Gunners' away day success on the South Coast:
Daily Mirror
"After a difficult restart Arsenal got back to winning ways with a deserved three points against Southampton," Darren Wells wrote for the Mirror.
"They may well have capitalised on some good fortune with their opener, but they reduced the home side to few chances, and cut them open on a number of occasions.
"On another day Arsenal's lack of composure in front of goal may have cost them, as they wasted several decent openings, and they started sitting deep early on to protect their lead, which could have backfired.
"But they weathered what Southampton threw at them and added a second late on, in what was overall a solid, controlled display.
"Just what they needed after the chaos of recent games."
Daily Mail
"On the hottest day of 2020, Arsenal were made to sweat but finally their Project Restart campaign has lift off," Sami Mokbel wrote for the Daily Mail.
"This wasn't pretty - Eddie Nketiah's freak first-half winner illustrative of this cluttered game played out in the sweltering June heat.
"Not that Mikel Arteta gave a damn. After two successive defeats this victory was a necessity - the manner of it was secondary.
"By the time Joe Willock eased any late apprehension, Southampton were down to 10 men as Jack Stephens was sent off for trying to reprieve his team Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg's dreadful error.
"For the time being, Arsenal can continue to dream of Champions League qualification.
"But in his heart of hearts, Arteta knows this victory will only serve as a temporary respite to the problems he faces in trying to return the Gunners to the top table of European football."
The Sun
"That a narrow win at Southampton is seen as a good sign for Arsenal is all the proof you need that the club are now a mid-table team at best," Duncan Wright wrote for The Sun.
"Those wonderful days when the Gunners played some of the best football on the planet are a thing of the past – so to borrow a phrase, this is the new norm. Mediocrity.
"A team being pushed all the way by a club with the worst home record in the entire Premier League this season and who relied on a major cock-up from the Saints keeper to get the win.
"Yes, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang had a couple of great chances to score as well, but this is what the future looks like for Arsenal fans – a 50-50 toss-up on whether they can beat run of the mill top flight clubs."
Daily Star
"Have Arsenal finally found their fox in the box? Nketiah's clever closing down of Saints goalkeeper Alex McCarthy forced the error which allowed him to score and showed exactly why he is currently ahead of Alexandre Lacazette in the pecking order," Owen Fulda wrote for the Daily Star.
"Comparisons to Gunners legend Ian Wright may be somewhat premature but the 21-year-old is looking like the real deal.
"Nketiah now has more goals in 2020 than Harry Kane and Raheem Sterling combined."
