Arsenal 3-1 Southampton. Arsenal came from behind to maintain their unbeaten start to the season with a 3-1 victory over winless Southampton at the Emirates Stadium.
Two quick goals in the second half from Kai Havertz and Gabriel Martinelli turned the tide after Cameron Archer gave Southampton a surprise lead. Bukayo Saka sealed the win with a late goal, ensuring Arsenal’s continued strong form.
This victory also marked Arsenal’s 400th home win in Premier League history, making them only the second club to reach that milestone. They remain just one point behind league leaders Liverpool heading into the international break.
Southampton, who have just one point from their first seven games, struggled to contain Arsenal’s pressure throughout the match. Despite some resilient defending, they managed to hold off the Gunners until halftime.
The Saints took an unexpected lead 10 minutes into the second half when Cameron Archer scored on the counterattack, capitalizing after Raheem Sterling, making his first league start for Arsenal, lost possession to Mateus Fernandes.
Arsenal responded swiftly. Just three minutes later, Havertz curled a brilliant shot in off the post to equalize. Martinelli then made it 2-1 with a well-timed run to meet Saka’s cross at the back post.
Southampton refused to give up and came close to leveling the score, with Dominic Ballard’s deflected shot hitting the post and Adam Armstrong rattling the crossbar moments later. However, Arsenal’s dominance prevailed, and Saka put the game beyond reach with a clinical finish in the dying moments.
The win extends Arsenal’s unbeaten run in all competitions to 16 matches, and manager Mikel Arteta praised Saka, who provided two assists and scored the third goal. “He has the capacity to change and decide games. That is his maturity and it’s another step in what he wants,” Arteta said, adding that Saka’s ability to deliver in crucial moments is what defines a top player.
Arsenal had to dig deep for the second week in a row, having required a late rally to beat Leicester in their previous match. For much of the game, Arsenal looked dominant yet frustratingly wasteful, failing to break down Southampton’s defense in the first half.
It was Southampton’s goal that finally woke Arsenal up. Havertz’s equalizer and Martinelli’s quick follow-up turned the game around, and Arteta’s triple substitution—bringing on Martinelli, Leandro Trossard, and summer signing Mikel Merino—added fresh energy to secure the win.
Southampton, despite their battling performance, have now matched their worst-ever top-flight run, extending to 20 matches without a win, a record last seen in 1969. While their defensive resilience showed promise, manager Russell Martin will be concerned as they remain at the bottom of the table.
Arsenal’s solid start to the season, with five wins and two draws (both achieved with 10 men), puts them in a promising position in the Premier League title race, while Southampton continue their search for their first victory.
source – BBC
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