In a fitting finale to the 2024/25 Premier League season, Arsenal clinched a 2-1 victory against Southampton at St Mary’s Stadium on May 25, 2025, securing their third consecutive top-two finish and Champions League qualification. The Gunners, under the guidance of assistant manager Albert Stuivenberg due to Mikel Arteta’s touchline ban, delivered a performance that encapsulated their season: resilient, occasionally nervy, but ultimately triumphant. Southampton, relegated to the Championship after a dismal campaign that saw them become the first team to lose 30 games in a single Premier League season, fought valiantly but could not deny Arsenal the three points.
The match began with Arsenal asserting dominance, their attacking intent clear despite a rotated squad. Kieran Tierney, in what may have been his final appearance for the club as his contract nears its end, opened the scoring in the 43rd minute. The Scottish full-back latched onto a precise through ball from Declan Rice and rifled a low shot past Aaron Ramsdale, Southampton’s goalkeeper and former Arsenal man. The goal sent the traveling fans into raptures, with Tierney’s emotional celebration hinting at a bittersweet farewell.
Southampton, however, refused to roll over. In the 56th minute, Ross Stewart rose highest to meet a corner, powering a header past David Raya to level the score. The goal briefly ignited hopes of a rare home point for the Saints, who frustrated Arsenal with their compact defending and occasional counter-attacking threat. Mateus Fernandes and Tyler Dibling tested Arsenal’s makeshift backline, with Jakub Kiwior and Riccardo Calafiori stepping up in the absence of injured regulars William Saliba, Gabriel Magalhaes, and Jurrien Timber.
As the game ticked toward its conclusion, Arsenal’s captain Martin Ødegaard emerged as the hero. In the 89th minute, the Norwegian midfielder, introduced as a substitute, latched onto a clever flick from Bukayo Saka and slotted a composed finish into the bottom corner. The late strike sparked wild celebrations among the Arsenal faithful and sealed a 2-1 victory, ensuring the Gunners finished the season with 74 points, three behind champions Manchester City.
Despite the win, Arsenal’s season ends without silverware, marking their third consecutive trophyless campaign. The match highlighted both their strengths and ongoing challenges. Kai Havertz, Gabriel Martinelli, and Leandro Trossard, Arsenal’s top scorers with nine, eight, and eight goals respectively, failed to reach double digits, a feat not seen from the club since 1923-24. The Gunners’ injury woes also persisted, with Bukayo Saka limping off late, raising concerns for the off-season.
For Southampton, the defeat was a microcosm of their torrid season. With just 12 points and a goal difference of -59, the Saints head to the Championship with lessons to learn. Managerless and with injuries to key defenders like Charlie Taylor, they showed flashes of potential through players like Kamal Sulemana but lacked the consistency to compete at this level.
Post-match, Stuivenberg praised Arsenal’s character, noting, “We showed fight to come back after their equalizer. The boys wanted to end on a high, and they did.” Southampton’s interim boss, meanwhile, expressed pride in his team’s effort, stating, “We gave everything against a top side. Now we focus on rebuilding.”
Arsenal’s victory also saw them make history, becoming the first English top-flight club to win 14 final matches of a season, breaking a 101-year-old record.