Arsenal 3-1 Southampton: Saka shines in hard-fought Gunners win
Arsenal 3-1 Southampton: Saka shines in hard-fought Gunners win. It was yet another a nervy finish for the Arsenal as they had to come from behind to secure a 3-1 win over Southampton at the Emirates Stadium in the Premier League.
The Gunners couldn’t make a first-half breakthrough and fell behind shortly after the restart following Cameron Archer‘s well-struck effort. But the home side responded swiftly and goals from Kai Havertz, Gabriel Martinelli and Bukayo Saka secured a vital win.
The result keeps Arsenal within a single point of table-toppers Liverpool heading into the international break, but Southampton still sit in the relegation zone as they await their first league win of the season.
How the game unfolded;
Arsenal took no time in pinning Southampton in their own penalty area with wave after wave of attacks within the opening stages. Set pieces were particularly effective against a frazzled Saints defence, with Havertz heading over from close range in the 12th minute.
Despite their territorial dominance and relentless pressure, Arsenal struggled to create clear-cut chances against an increasingly stubborn Southampton defence. Former Gunners goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale was untested in the opening half-hour, with Kyle Walker-Peters producing the only shot on target with a tame effort for the visitors.
Havertz and Saka saw half-chances come and go but it was defensive midfielder Jorginho who came closest to firing Arsenal ahead. The Italian picked up a loose ball on the edge of the area before flashing inches wide with a well-struck effort.
The Gunners continued to pressurise Southampton as a frustrating first half drew to a close, with Raheem Sterling‘s curling effort blocked by Jan Bednarek and Thomas Partey‘s long-range strike parried by Ramsdale. There was still no way through for the hosts.
Southampton almost caught Mikel Arteta‘s side cold within several minutes of the restart following a sensational surge up the field from young Tyler Dibling. The 18-year-old’s shot deflected into the path of Mateus Fernandes, who prodded inches over the crossbar from ten yards out.
But Fernandes made amends for his miss just six minutes later. The midfielder retrieved the ball from Sterling and floated a pass over the Arsenal defence to Archer, with the substitute cutting inside the penalty area and caressing into the bottom corner. The hosts were left angered after referee Tony Harrington didn’t pull play back for the initial challenge on Sterling.
However, Arsenal fired back straight away and it was the in-form Havertz who produced a fine equaliser. Saka released the German after Flynn Downes was dispossessed in midfield and he took an excellent first touch before rattling his strike beyond the outstretched glove of Ramsdale.
A triple change after the equaliser helped spur Arsenal on and they took the lead for the first time just 11 minutes later. Some excellent footwork from Saka was followed by a teasing cross to the far post, with substitute Martinelli poking home from just a few yards out. After a lengthy VAR check, the goal was confirmed.
Despite getting their noses in front, Arsenal decided to slow the tempo down in an attempt to control proceedings. But it did just the opposite, with Dibling striking the post from range after being given too much time to shoot, and the Saints striking the crossbar from the subsequent corner. Two huge let-offs for the Gunners.
Any hope of a late equaliser for the visitors vanished in the 88th minute and it was the influential Saka who produced the clinching third for Arsenal. Yukinari Sugawara‘s error was pounced upon by the winger, who slotted a wonderful finish beyond Ramsdale to secure all three points for the Gunners.
