This season has ebbed and flowed so much already, but now there is something tangible for Saints to really aim for – and it might not be the only thing.

A place in the EFL Cup semi-finals, the first time Saints have made the last four of the League Cup since the 1986-87 season, is an excellent first achievement for Claude Puel.

It is even more the case when you consider that Saints have had to come through three ties against Premier League opposition to get there, including last night’s victory away to Arsenal.

Rampant success in the top flight was always going to be hard in this campaign due to the strain of the fixture pile-up Saints were going to face due to a first Europa League group stage campaign.

They are holding their own in fairness, but to expect them to finish sixth again is a huge ask.

And so, what you want, is progress in at least one cup, be it domestic or the Europa League.

Though they still have a home tie with Hapoel Be’er Sheva to negotiate, they still look good to make it through to the knockout stages in Europe, and now they are just a two-legged tie away from Wembley in the League Cup.

It is something the fans have wanted so desperately for so long.

Saints should have won more silverware in their history, and for all the fine recent seasons, and the excitement of previous decades, a major cup win has been something supporters have craved almost beyond all other things.

Now they have a chance of that, while Puel has an opportunity to deliver something very significant in his first season.

The key when you have so many games is the strength of the squad.

One look at the teamsheets before last night’s game showed two very much changed sides, but Saints’ adapted side are, quite simply, better than Arsenal’s. There could be no debate about this result.

The first half was really about as much as Saints could possibly have hoped for.

There was pretty much no incident in it all, other than Jordy Clasie and Ryan Bertrand firing home to give them a two goal lead.

The rest of the opening period was played in a fairly constant rhythm and, for the vast majority of it, Saints looked incredibly comfortable.

They were pinned back early on, and the Gunners did have a small period of possession and pressure midway through the first 45 minutes, but otherwise the game was very much as Saints would have hoped.

Rather than stretching them wide and trying to use their pace to get in behind, Arsenal were funnelled narrow and often played in front of Saints.

That suited Puel’s charges just fine. They were happy to play on the counter attack and when they got the ball to sit in nice and tight and keep possession.

The only two moments of note ended in Saints goals.

Their first, on 13 minutes, was a terrific half volleyed strike from Clasie.

The ball had been sprayed cross field by Maya Yoshida to Bertrand. His left wing cross found Sofiane Boufal, whose first time shot was blocked but only as far as Clasie just inside the area and his strike flew past Emiliano Martinez to notch a first goal for the club.

The second, on 38 minutes, was started and ended by Bertrand.

He won the ball deep in the Arsenal half and fed it to Steven Davis, who in turn found Boufal outside him. He laid it back to Bertrand and the left back took one touch to control and a second to bury a left footed shot into the opposite bottom corner from about 12 yards out.

The second half saw Arsenal pushing for a goal to get back into it, and dominating the ball a little more, but their build-up play was so slow it made life easier for Saints.

Fraser Forster had a few fairly routine saves to make, before a slightly more challenging one down to his left from Francis Coqulein.

Towards the end things got a little more frantic, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain firing over from inside the box and Saints getting one off the line, but it rarely felt they were under that much threat.

Indeed, Saints had their own chances to really kill the game off once and for all.

Shane Long’s superb drive was well saved by Martinez, who also tipped round the post from Josh Sims.

Steven Davis could only sidefoot over the bar from Sam McQueen’s left wing cross, Long was played through on goal but Gabriel’s challenge ensured he missed the target while Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg had a late shot saved.

This was a pretty comprehensive Saints victory to see them through to the last four.

In cup ties you sometimes have to ride your luck, but a combination of Saints’ compact style and some excellent performances, and Arsenal’s inability to really test them at the back meant they didn’t have to.

From inside this vital fortnight of matches Saints have produced a victory over Everton to solidify their league standing, and booked a semi-final cup spot.

You couldn’t have asked for more.