Arsenal had to work hard for their 3-1 victory over Southampton, but ultimately secured the win thanks to a man-of-the-match display from Bukayo Saka. The England international set up goals for Kai Havertz, who cancelled out Cameron Archer’s opener, and Gabriel Martinelli, before capping off the performance with a late goal of his own to seal the result.
Here’s what the managers, players, stattos and pundits made of another Emirates nailbiter…
Mikel Arteta on his players coming from behind…
We started the first half, it was exceptional. The dominance, the territory that we played in, the amount of situations, chances that we created, set pieces. It was unbelievable not to be 1 or 2 or 3-0 up. That’s football. And then we started the second half, we started a little bit more inconsistent, especially with the things that we did with the ball. They were a bit more aggressive, the game was not in [our] control, we concede the goal and then it’s game on. Everything that we did in the first half was thrown away. And we start to play a different game but I think the team reacted with a lot of authority, very reassured, very composed and I’m really happy that we can react like this but not that happy that with the amount of control and dominance that we had in the first hour that we have to go through that again.
Source: BBC Sport
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Southampton manager Russell Martin on his side’s performance…
The game panned out how we though it might. They had the ball but I loved the way we defended. We asked for more courage on the ball and I thought we showed that. We had some really brilliant moments in the second half. When we scored we’d limited them to few chances. But they scored too quickly after that, it’s a mistake and we get caught losing the ball. I feel so much more positive and proud of my team than I did on Monday night, and we played against one of the best teams in the country. If we play like that in the next block of games I’d be very happy.
Source: BBC Match of the Day
Arsenal (2.64) 3-1 (0.73) Southampton
— The xG Philosophy (@xGPhilosophy) October 5, 2024
Cameron Archer on Southampton falling apart after taking the lead…
First half, we defended really good. Went into the second half, discussed what we were doing well, what we weren’t doing well, the second half came and we came out and asked a few more questions. We created a bit more, a few more chances, and then obviously got the goal. I think three minutes after, they score, and it kind of takes that energy away from us a little bit. I think we need to stop doing this, we need to play with a lot more courage. It’s not the end of the game when they score, so if we do play with that more courage, I think we can score more goals and win more games.
Source: SouthamptonFC.com
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Martinelli on his goal and form…
I wasn’t sure if I was on and I was just praying it was onside. Really happy with the goal. We know where we have to attack in the box and when someone opens the ball up, we know where to go. I’m really happy with the ball and the goal as well. I’m really happy at the moment, I scored in the last game, an assist as well, and today another goal, so I’m really happy with my performance and the team also.
Source: Sky Sports
Only six players now have more assists in the Premier League for Arsenal than Bukayo Saka:
94 Bergkamp
74 Henry
70 Cesc
54 Ozil
46 Ramsey
43 Walcott
42 Saka
41 Pires— Orbinho (@Orbinho) October 5, 2024
Arteta on Saka’s growing stature…
He’s really enjoying the role and the way he’s driving the team, the respect and admiration he’s got from his teammates. If you want to be one of the best players, you have to turn up when things are difficult and when it matters, and he’s doing that at the moment.
Source: Arsenal.com
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Martinelli on Saka’s assist and form…
It was an unbelievable ball from B, and I was there – a really good moment for me and a nice goal. I just tried to put it down, and I’m really happy with the goal. He’s a really nice guy as well so we’re really happy to have him here as one of the captains. He’s unbelievable, one of the best players in the world right now.
Source: Arsenal.com
Kai Havertz is the first player to score in seven consecutive appearances at the Emirates since RvP in March 2012. Only Thierry Henry, Doug Lishman and Jimmy Brain have enjoyed longer scoring streaks on home soil for #Arsenal (8 each). pic.twitter.com/2DTwz876j0
— Harvey Downes (@HarveyDownes92) October 5, 2024
Arteta on Kai Havertz…
He’s really hungry, such an intelligent player, he is so focused to achieve what he wants and was exceptional again.
Source: BBC Sport
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Arteta on Jesus and Sterling…
I was really happy. We made the changes, we had to make them and everybody deserves to play. In the first half it could have been very different to the result we had at half-time. After that we decided to change because the energy had to be changed and we brought on three players that have the ability to do that and they really helped. I’m really pleased with everybody.
Source: Post-game press conference
#Arsenal's record when Gabriel Martinelli has found the back of the net:
W W W D W D D W W W W W W W W W W W W W W W W W W W D D W W W W W W W W W
— Harvey Downes (@HarveyDownes92) October 5, 2024
Arteta on Arsenal surviving 7 games in 21 days unbeaten…
This period required something else, something that we haven’t done in the past. For the amount of injuries and with the schedule we had to play, and we played certain moments with 10 men as well. It doesn’t matter, there’s no excuses. We adapted to that, we faced it and we went for it, and I love that character from the team.
Source: Arsenal.com
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Dion Dublin on Arsenal’s resolve…
Arsenal have got something new which I haven’t seen in many years. This horrible side, the grit and determination – they’re all happy to do it and they’ll muck in. They have the heart this time and they are hurting from over the last couple of years.
Source: BBC Sport
Bukayo Saka is the only player on record (since 2003-04) to have 7+ shots & create 7+ chances in a Premier League game more than once and he's done it in back-to-back appearances.
◎ 7 shots, 8 chances created v Leicester
◉ 7 shots, 7 chances created v Southampton https://t.co/njqkXMqjWc
— Harvey Downes (@HarveyDownes92) October 5, 2024
I wouldn’t swap Buykayo Saka for any player in the world. What a player.
And you can quote that. 🙂
Love my Bukayo but will have a headache if I am offered Mbappe or Vini.
Ironically, I am with the downvoters because of who Saka is as a man or as a top top player. Just after my comment, Vini made the headache worse. Check the highlights to see his goal of today..
I would for Martin Odegaard, except luckily he’s already on our team too.
Ah, back in the day when Mafia boss Jimmy the Brain played for Arsenal.
Dick Tracy villain Jimmy brain.
I think that graphic says we are 32-5-0 when Martinelli scores (might be wrong, lost count a couple of times). That’s a bit amazing–too many to be coincidence but unlikely to be simple causality. Any theories?
Was thinking the same. Ok here’s the only sort-of-idea I have about this – Martinelli tends to do better against teams who attack us a bit and leave space in behind and not just sit back in a low block. And we seem to do pretty well against such teams generally, so if Nelli scores it’s possibly often indicative of an open type game this team thrives in, and where Odegaard and Saka are especially effective too, both scoring and assisting, so I imagine in a lot of those games we may have scored 3 goals or more, at which… Read more »
3 more points. Nuff said