Arsenal defeated Southampton 3-1 at The Emirates, but the match itself turned out to be harder for the Gunners than anyone could have expected. At the beginning of the second half, the Saints took the lead. Later, however, Bukayo Saka jumped into the superhero costume and contributed significantly to the hosts’ victory.
Bukayo Saka is in excellent form
In the match against the Saints, the Englishman once again showed off his fantastic final touch, recording his sixth and seventh assists in the Premier League this season. He is currently the best assistant in the entire league with a significant advantage over other players. There is also no player in Europe’s top five leagues who has accumulated more assists this season. Martinelli’s assist in particular deserves special mention. The right winger served his trademark pass, a cross to the far post, which was headed into the net by Gabriel Martinelli. There is an obvious change in Saka’s game this season. It is now clear that he fully takes responsibility for the Gunners’ play and realizes that he can be the player who will make a difference for the Gunners. At the end of the match, the Englishman also added a goal to his tally, making great use of an error by the Southampton defender.
Mikel Arteta was missing from the squad today
The Gunners struggled for a long time in this match, unable to break through the Saints’ well-organized defense. However, it seems that some of these problems could have been avoided if only Mikel Arteta had arranged his starting eleven better. It turned out to be a completely wrong choice to choose Gabriel Jesus – all the Brazilian did was frustrate everyone around him. Kai Havertz also didn’t look good until he moved to his preferred position – the number nine position. The Gunners clearly lacked a creator, someone who would be able to help create an attack. Previously, Leandro Trossard played this role, but the Belgian started the match against the Saints on the substitute bench. Ethan Nwaneri was also missing to play the role. As a result, the Gunners banged their heads against the wall for a long time, repeatedly trying to throw into the visitors’ penalty area with little effect. The Gunners’ game looked much better after the changes, when, for example, the previously mentioned Leo Trossard appeared on the pitch. Southampton may have forgiven such mistakes when choosing their squad, but a stronger opponent may not.
Southampton lost, but they have something to build on
Ultimately, the Saints leave London without any points, but they can undoubtedly be satisfied with some aspects of their performance at The Emirates. Despite the initial perturbations, overall the organization of the game in defense of the visiting team was a positive – especially considering what they have shown so far in the league games. For a long time, they were able to limit The Gunners only to throw-ins into the penalty area. Russell Martin’s team’s entry into the second half should also be appreciated. They came out motivated and brave, ready to cause trouble for the Gunners. They succeeded, and their brave approach was rewarded with a goal that took them into the lead in the match. We all know what happened next, but it doesn’t change the fact that, considering who and where they faced, this may be a step in the right direction for the Premier League newcomer. Unless, of course, Russell Martin keeps his job. Even before the match, rumors about his possible dismissal were getting louder, and the upcoming international break may be an ideal opportunity for the owners of the team from St. Mary’s to rethink the position of first-team coach.
