EDUARDO GALEANO, Uruguayan writer, journalist and political activist, celebrated the joy football brings. 

Arsenal’s 3-1 victory over Southampton at St Mary’s earlier this week was marked by a feeling Galeano would know well, but one that has been missing recently among long-suffering Gunners supporters: joy, deep joy, as Mikel Arteta’s vibrant side gained revenge of sorts in the south coast rain for their FA Cup defeat by the Saints last weekend. 

In a difficult season punctuated by frustrating defeats and an alarming run of poor form during the dark days of November and December, the north Londoners were fired by exuberant probing from Hale End graduates Emile Smith Rowe and Bukayo Saka — who became only the second English teenager to score in successive league games for the club since Ashley Cole — with the team also boosted by goals from record-signing Nicolas Pepe and striker Alexandre Lacazette.