Football: Henry spared blushes after amazing miss; SOUTHAMPTON 0

THIERRY Henry ensured Arsenal maintained their impressive away form - and saved himself from ridicule over the miss of the season.

This match was such a stroll for Arsenal that they could have had six goals before the half hour mark after Robert Pires fired them in front after just five minutes.

But whether it was the warm south coast weather or just too much over-confidence, Arsenal failed to secure the three points until Henry struck the second on 74 minutes.

By then, sorry Saints were down to 10 men after midfielder Chris Marsden had been sent off for an attempted two-footed lunge at Patrick Vieira.

But Southampton were booed off the pitch by their fans who are still waiting to see them win at their new St Mary's home.

Yet at least the Southampton crowd had something to smile about - in fact they were provided with fits of laughter - when Henry, the French striker with the flair for brilliance, was presented with arguably as easy a chance as he has ever had in the 20th minute.

Sylvain Wiltord's fierce shot had crashed against the right- hand post but with goalkeeper Paul Jones nowhere, Henry casually volleyed the ball wide from eight yards to his disbelief and that of his team- mates.

Wiltord was continually allowed acres of room on the left flank and in one Arsenal move Southampton failed to clear the ball three times.

By that stage of the first half the home fans were chanting whether chairman Rupert Lowe was taking note of what was happening on the pitch.

The Saints are in the bottom five with only two wins all season, both of those away from home and Stuart Gray must spend the pounds 8million from the sale of Dean Richards wisely.

After skipper Claus Lundekbam came off after 38 minutes with an injury, replaced by Jason Dodd, Southampton's reshuffling of the back did not make too much difference.

Southampton have only scored once at home all season, the worst record in the Premiership, and how ironic, that having moved to this grander manor, they are missing out on the advances the tight little ground at The Dell brought them.

Ironically, it was in the last home game at the old stadium that Southampton beat Arsenal 3-2 but yesterday, on this bigger pitch and with Freddie Ljungberg and Wiltord exploiting the space they were given, the pattern of the match was created from the opening minutes.

Arsenal remain close on the heels of leaders Leeds at the top of the Premiership but should have given their goal difference a wealth of an advantage yesterday.

With Tony Adams out injured, Sol Campbell returned at the back and in five minutes Arsenal were in front after Ljungberg dispossessed Lundekvan.

The ball was played to Wiltord in the Southampton box but after he failed to control, fellow Frenchman Pires perfectly placing the ball wide of goalkeeper Jones.

The sending off came about in the 59th minute after Marsden attempted to land a two-footed tackle on Vieira in revenge, after the Arsenal captain had two minutes earlier almost caught the Saints man.

Referee Graham Barber sent him off for a second bookable offence even though he did appear to touch the Frenchman.SOUTHAMPTON: Jones 5, El Khalej 5, Lundekvam 5 (Dodd 6), Monk 6, Bridge 6, Davies 7, Oakley 6 (Ripley 6), Marsden 5, Svensson 5 (Tessem 6), Pahars 6, Beattie 6.

ARSENAL: Wright 6, Lauren 6, Campbell 6, Upson 6, Cole 6, Pires 7, Vieira 8, van Bronckhorst 6 (Grimandi 6), LJUNGBERG 8 (Parlour 6), Wiltord 7 (Bergkamp 6), Henry 6.

MANAGER RATINGS: Gray 6; Wenger 8.

REFEREE: G Barber 6.ATTENDANCE: 29,769MAN OF THE MATCH:

FREDRIK LJUNGBERG, who was a constant threat to Saints

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