Arsenal hit back in style after the Southampton scare

Mikel Arteta praised Bukayo Saka for inspiring Arsenal’s fightback with a 3-1 win over Southampton on Saturday to keep their Premier League title fight on track.

Arteta’s side were rocked by Cameron Archer’s surprise opener for the winless visitors early in the second half at the Emirates Stadium.

But Kai Havertz and Gabriel Martinelli restored order in quick succession before Saka secured Arsenal’s fifth win in seven league games.

After finishing second to Manchester City in each of the last two years, the Gunners are now back in contention for their first title since 2004.

Saka said this week he expects Arsenal to finally win the Premier League trophy this season.

They lie in third place, a point behind leaders Liverpool, after extending their unbeaten run to 10 games in all competitions.

Saka has seven assists in the Premier League so far, three more than any other player and the most in all of Europe’s top five leagues.

“There are statistics you can’t escape and what he’s doing at his age is incredible,” Arteta said.

“He has the ability to change games and decide. This is his maturity and another step towards getting what he wants.”

“When you do it at home, you do it in big games, in not so big games. That’s what makes a top player.”

“If we want to get to the top, sometimes players have to create those moments and he definitely did that.”

Four days after their crucial win over Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League, Arsenal faced a Southampton side who have picked up just one point from seven games since gaining promotion.

“Their goal was a wake-up call and it’s true that we had to respond to it. But we did it, and we did it convincingly,” said Arteta.

Aaron Ramsdale, who played 78 times in the Premier League for the Gunners, did it on his return to the Emirates and almost gave Arsenal an early lead with a sloppy free throw, but Raheem Sterling missed the chance.

Arsenal dominated the first half without testing Ramsdale until he parried Thomas Partey’s shot in stoppage time.

In the 55th minute, Sterling was overwhelmed by Mateus Fernandes in midfield and he played to Archer, who broke free from William Saliba and fired a deflected shot past David Raya.

Southampton’s lead lasted just three minutes as Saka beat Flynn Downes before finding Havertz in open space, who confidently scored his fourth goal in his last four games.

On the hour mark, Arteta brought in Martinelli and Leandro Trossard in two substitutions that turned the tide.

Saka’s fine cross found Martinelli unmarked in the 68th minute and the winger side-footed a volley through Ramsdale’s legs.

Tyler Dibling’s deflected shot hit the base of Raya’s post and Adam Armstrong’s shot hit the crossbar in a thrilling finish.

But as the Saints pressed for an equaliser, Saka fired past Ramsdale to ensure Arsenal continued to chase their title dreams.

© Agence France Press