Arsenal boss Unai Emery reveals why they were beaten by Southampton

Austin punishes Leno blunder as Saints stun Arsenal

Unai Emery admitted Arsenal need to fix their leaky defence after Southampton's Charlie Austin punished a howler from Bernd Leno to seal a shock 3-2 win that ended the Gunners' 22-match unbeaten run on Sunday.

Austin settled a thrilling Premier League clash at St Mary's when he headed home with just five minutes left after Arsenal goalkeeper Leno misjudged Shane Long's cross.

Southampton had twice taken the lead through Danny Ings, only for Henrikh Mkhitaryan's brace to draw Arsenal level on each occasion.

Leno's mistake handed Arsenal their first defeat in 15 league games and brought a stunning halt to their longest unbeaten run in all competitions since 2007.

Emery's fifth-placed team had not lost since a 3-2 defeat at Chelsea in August and the north Londoners' first setback since the close-season leaves them three points behind the fourth-placed Blues, who won at Brighton on Sunday.

Conceding Arsenal need to tighten up at the back, Emery said: "We haven't conceded a lot of chances but today they scored three goals. That is a lot so we need to improve with this.

"We need to do some analysis on how we can improve and do better. But our way is a good way and we need to continue.

"We need to continue taking responsibility for the 90 minutes.

"Southampton deserved the result because they pushed and played with big ambition."

While it was a bitter afternoon for Arsenal, Southampton's first win in 15 matches in all competitions was cause for much celebration.

- Jubilant Hasenhuettl -

Southampton manager Ralph Hasenhuettl, taking charge of his first home game, danced a jubilant jig on the pitch at full-time after securing the maiden victory of his reign.

Hasenhuettl watched Southampton lose 1-0 at Cardiff in his first match and, in a PR stunt this week, he sent free drinks vouchers to Saints season ticket holders.

The Austrian, who left his role as Leipzig boss in May, was the toast of St Mary's after Southampton won at home in the league for the first time since April to climb out of the relegation zone.

"It's amazing what the team can do in a week. It was very intensive, we had time to work on the basics and built the fundamentals for our game," Hasenhuettl said.

"I'm very proud of how focused and uncompromising they were, and when they had the chances, how merciless they were.

"It was a fantastic atmosphere and a special feeling here to win the match."

Laurent Koscielny was making his first Premier League start since April after recovering from an Achilles injury, but Arsenal's French centre-back looked rusty when Southampton took a surprise lead in the 20th minute.

Matt Targett whipped over a superb cross and Koscielny was caught by Ings' perfectly-timed run, completely missing his attempted clearance as the on-loan Liverpool striker powered his header past Leno.

It took Arsenal just eight minutes to equalise with a flowing move that saw Alex Iwobi pick out Nacho Monreal's run before the Spaniard chipped a cross for the unmarked Mkhitaryan to head home.

Ings' movement was causing Arsenal problems and he struck again to restore Southampton's lead in the 44th minute.

Nathan Redmond's cross unhinged Emery's creaky back three and this time Ings got in between Koscielny and Stephan Lichtsteiner to loop a fine header over the stranded Leno.

For the 17th time this season, Arsenal had failed to secure a half-time lead in the league and Emery responded by sending on Alexandre Lacazette.

The Gunners have been far more dangerous after the interval this season and once again they hit back to equalise in the 53rd minute.

Allowed too much space on the edge of the area, Mkhitaryan collected Lacazette's pass and drilled a low strike that took a crucial deflection off Jannik Vestergaard as it flashed past the wrong-footed McCarthy.

In the 85th minute, Long's cross floated across the penalty area, tempting Leno off his line, but the German missed with his attempt to punch clear and Austin was on hand to head into the empty net.