Bukayo Saka impressed Arsenal to victory over Southampton as they got here from behind to win 3-1 on the Emirates Stadium.
Arsenal had been annoyed by the dogged guests within the first half and fell behind quickly after the break when substitute Cameron Archer discovered the underside nook following a Saints counter.
The aim sparked a direct Arsenal response, although, as Saka stole possession and fed Kai Havertz, who guided a positive end previous Aaron Ramsdale to attain for a seventh consecutive residence sport.
The turnaround was full when Saka’s diagonal cross was transformed by substitute Gabriel Martinelli, with the aim surviving a VAR verify for offside, earlier than Saka pounced on one other Saints error to transform Arsenal’s third and wrap up the victory.
Arsenal, profligate early on having handed a primary Premier League begin to Raheem Sterling and a primary begin of the season to Gabriel Jesus, needed to come by way of extra nervy moments between their second and third targets, with Tyler Dibling clipping the upright and a David Raya punch from a nook bouncing again onto the bar.
However they ran out deserved winners in the long run, having racked up 29 photographs, the victory maintaining them a degree behind leaders Liverpool and guaranteeing Southampton’s anticipate a primary win continues regardless of an improved displaying on their 3-1 loss to Bournemouth.
Evaluation: Saka steps up once more
Mikel Arteta fielded a entrance 4 with a mixed whole of 279 targets and 158 assists within the Premier League however it was the youngest member of the quartet who actually stepped up.
This was one other excellent show from Saka, who, at solely 23, continues to be the participant Arsenal look to within the troublesome moments. His pair of assists took him to seven within the Premier League this season. On the time of writing, no person else has greater than 4.
Bukayo Saka scores the third aim for Arsenal towards Southampton
Saka is challenged by Southampton’s Ryan Manning
Saka’s aim eliminated any jeopardy from the ultimate couple of minutes of the sport and adopted a equally vital strike in Tuesday’s Champions League win over Paris Saint-Germain.
A more in-depth take a look at the numbers underlines the extraordinary extent of his affect towards Saints.
Having had seven photographs and created eight probabilities within the 4-2 win over Leicester, one other sport wherein he helped Arsenal avert catastrophe, he recorded related numbers right here, trying one other seven photographs and creating one other seven probabilities.
This time, he had a aim and two assists to indicate for his efforts; Arsenal’s match-winner as soon as once more.
Evaluation: Dibling exhibits star potential
Dibling has been a shiny spot for Saints in a troublesome season and that continued on the Emirates Stadium. The 18-year-old continues to indicate star potential, even in difficult circumstances.
He regarded unfazed on the massive stage and produced a few of Southampton’s greatest attacking moments.
At one level within the second half, he may very well be seen burning previous Arsenal right-back Riccardo Calafiori and crossing for Manuel Fernandes, whose scooped end looped narrowly over.
Not lengthy after that, he was slicing inside, into the No 10 place, and unleashing a strong long-range effort that clipped the submit by way of a slight deflection. His high quality shone by way of – and never for the primary time this season. A shiny future awaits.
