Arsenal managed to secure another vital three points against one of their bogey sides, Southampton on Saturday. It was by no means a simple task and the Gunners needed to come from behind to get the result.
Arsenal were frustrated throughout the first half as they peppered Aaron Ramsdale’s box with chance after chance but could not find their way through. Southampton’s surprise goal by Cameron Archer was cancelled out quickly by Kai Havertz’s strike. Gabriel Martinelli would then give the Gunners the lead after an excellent cross from Bukayo Saka, finished first time by the Brazilian. Saka would then add a third to help secure the points.
With it being a 3pm UK afternoon kick-off, the embargo was of course in place limiting those of whom were able to watch the proceedings. Thankfully, football.london were in attendance to not only describe the action but for those able to catch the television pictures on offer, we managed to spot all the happenings that the cameras missed.
Never seen that before
The benefit of being in the ground is you seen things that only those also with you can spot. Specifically, this can be before kick-off during warm-ups and Aaron Ramsdale naturally got a lot of the focus, clapping the home fans before heading toward his own supporters.
But it was a moment before this which caught my attention instead regarding Southampton head coach Russell Martin. Five minutes before the kick-off, the Saints boss ran out, all the way across the pitch to the away supporters to clap them and encourage their support – not something I can say I have ever seen.
Kai Havertz wanting more from Partey
It was indeed a frustrating opening 45 minutes for Arsenal. After a blistering start and a spate of chances, Southampton rode out the storm and won the war of attrition. Continuing to block shots throughout the first period with Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus.
With Ramsdale down receiving treatment after a collision with Raheem Sterling, Havertz was spotted pulling Thomas Partey for a chat. Seen indicating that he wanted some lower-driven whipped passes across the face to get on to, perhaps a hint that the aerial bombardment simply was not doing the business for the former Chelsea man – his goal would indeed come from a low quick pass into him from the right by Saka.
Arteta shouts at Partey
Early in the second half, it seemed that the angst of the chances that failed to fall the Gunners’ way had taken enough of a mental toll that early mistakes had reached the stage of provoking a reaction from the manager. Partey, in the unorthodox right-back role, passed the ball straight into the feet of Mateus Fernandes.
Luckily the ball rebounded gratefully back into the Ghanaian’s possession to lay it off for David Raya. Spinning attention to Mikel Arteta on the sideline, arms were aloft in frustration as the Spaniard then shouted across the field to his midfielder who responded well and wouldn’t make an error for the remainder of the clash before he was replaced by Takehiro Tomiyasu.
