Arsenal Edge Southampton 2-1 as Ødegaard’s Late Strike Sinks Record-Setting Saints on Premier League’s Final Day

Ødegaard Delivers for Arsenal While Southampton Set a Dismal Record

If you needed a snapshot of how differently fortunes can swing in English football, the final Premier League game between Arsenal and Southampton captured it perfectly. The Gunners kept pushing until the very end, landing a 2-1 victory at St Mary’s Stadium with a late, clinical finish from their captain Martin Ødegaard. Saints fans, meanwhile, left the ground knowing their club had made unwanted history as the first top-flight side to notch up 30 losses in a single season. Nobody’s planning a parade for that.

The match had shades of dead rubber for Southampton, who’d already been relegated, but Arsenal clearly wanted to finish strong. It started with both teams trading nervous spells. Southampton’s solitary goal, a brief moment to cheer for the home crowd, came in the first half—though questions lingered about who would claim credit as the scorer. Arsenal, ever determined, responded soon after, with their own opener coming from a fast break and sharp finish — details of the goal scorer have yet to leak widely, but Arsenal’s attacking intent was clear throughout.

As the second half heated up, Southampton’s defense—and Will Smallbone in particular—began to unravel under pressure. Smallbone, tasked with shadowing Ødegaard, struggled to keep tabs as the Norwegian’s movement between the lines pulled defenders out of position. Ødegaard’s late goal was the result of a textbook bit of patience and precision, set up by an Arsenal side content to probe until a crack appeared. The goal itself was a thunderous drive into the net after Southampton gifted him just enough space. Smallbone’s challenge came a half-second too late.

Defensive Struggles and Standout Gunners

This wasn’t just about one decisive goal, though. Arsenal owed plenty to keeper David Raya, who repeatedly bailed them out with lightning fast reflexes. Raya’s effort has him in line for another Golden Glove, having made saves that stopped Southampton from getting a sniff of an equalizer after Ødegaard’s winner. Each dive and parry added another highlight to his season tally, reinforcing why Mikel Arteta trusted him between the posts.

Arteta, who’s pushed for flexibility and grit all season, rotated his tactics again in this final game. With Ødegaard shifting further up the pitch than usual, Arsenal looked to break lines through control and craft. Defensively, they steered clear of panic even as Saints threw bodies forward in the dying minutes. The manager’s words after the whistle said it best—he saw resilience, hunger, and a foundation for improvement heading into the summer break.

Southampton, for their part, now face a long offseason reckoning. Defensive mistakes defined their campaign, with the 30-loss milestone a harsh marker of where things have fallen apart. Fans can only hope that lessons get learned quickly, and the Championship brings a chance to rebuild from scratch.

On a day that won’t be forgotten by either set of supporters, Arsenal walk away with momentum and hope. Southampton, meanwhile, have a mountain to climb come August.