Shoot!’s EFL Cup Awards (Quarter-Finals): Player, Team and Goal of the Round

Team of the Round: Southampton

Rarely is there an opportunity for a ‘cup shock’ as we enter the latter stages of the competition, and seen as Leeds couldn’t provide it at Anfield, it looked unlikely that there’d be a real surprise result this time round, but there was a bit of an upset.

Southampton are far from mugs, but not many will have seen this coming despite Arsene Wenger making ten changes from the weekend.

Claude Puel himself made eight, and they paid off, as the Saints marched on and bagged themselves a place in the semi-finals.

Arsenal were unbeaten since their first day defeat to Liverpool, but that run came to an end as Jordy Clasie and Ryan Bertrand’s first-half goals were enough to see Southampton advance.

They went in front after less than quarter of an hour, Jordy Clasie hadn’t scored since arriving from Feyenoord last summer, but he’ll certainly remember his first for the Saints, and then not so long after Ryan Bertrand finished low into the corner with his left foot from inside the box, punishing Carl Jenkinson for a mistake in his defensive third.

On a bit of a dry night for the Gunners, Southampton defended fairly comfortably at most times and could’ve even added to the scoresheet further themselves.

Arsenal not at it on the night, and Southampton into the semis.