Saints stun Arsenal to reach semis

Southampton reached the EFL Cup semi-finals for the first time in 30 years by beating Arsenal 2-0 at the Emirates Stadium on Wednesday night.

Claude Puel set up his side to play on the counter-attack and the tactics worked brilliantly, Jordy Clasie firing the visitors into a 13th-minute lead.

Arsenal, who made 10 changes from the side that beat Bournemouth in the Premier League at the weekend, went further behind six minutes before half-time after another swift attack which was finished by Ryan Bertrand.

Granit Xhaka and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain were introduced from the bench by the hosts but the changes did not have the desired effect for Arsene Wenger with Southampton continuing to create opportunities on the break.

Steven Davis and Shane Long both missed chances but they did not prove to be costly as the Saints held on to book their place in the last four of a major cup competition for the first time since 2003.

For Arsenal, it is now just one win from their last six EFL Cup quarter-finals as Wenger’s wait to win the trophy continues.

Before the match got underway there was a minute’s silence held in memory of those who died in the Colombia air crash with Arsenal’s Brazilian defender Gabriel holding a tribute banner with the message ‘Força Chape’.

Arsenal bossed the opening exchanges, but it was …

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