Arsenal vs Southampton highlights: Havertz, Martinelli and Saka complete comeback against Saints
Live and extensive coverage from Arsenal vs Southampton at the Emirates Stadium as the Gunners look to continue their unbeaten start to the Premier League season
Share
by Kaya Kaynak, Tom Canton
Updated17:08, 5 Oct 2024
Arsenal take on Southampton in the Premier League at the Emirates Stadium
Arsenal take on Southampton in the Premier League at the Emirates Stadium(Image: Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)
Arsenal take on Southampton in their final game of this run of games ahead of the second international break of the campaign. A frustrating time perhaps for Mikel Arteta to see his team’s run broken up.
However, there is an argument that it will allow time for some absentees and injury doubts to return to action better after the hiatus from domestic action. Martin Odegaard is the key name but Jurrien Timber’s lack of inclusion in the Netherlands side for the next fortnight perhaps indicates he could do with being allowed some time off too.
Ben White and Takehiro Tomiyasu are the ones in contention for Saturday’s game game after their own issues while Oleksandr Zinchenko is another who likely needs the break to finally recover from his own problems. There could be a first Premier League appearance for Mikel Merino while Ethan Nwaneri is also fighting for his first start in the league.
Southampton bring with them Aaron Ramsdale to the club he left in the summer. Hopefully the Gunners do not experience one of the former stopper’s best games here at his old club.
Tom Canton and Kaya Kaynak bring coverage from the Emirates Stadium including all the build-up to this afternoon’s game. Updates and team news to follow…
Key Events
Full-time
16:58
GOAL! Arsenal 3-1 Southampton (Saka)
16:46
GOAL! Arsenal 2-1 Southampton (Martinelli)
16:26
GOAL! Arsenal 1-1 Southampton (Havertz!)
16:16
17:08Kaya Kaynak
Player ratings
One man of the match today for #AFC and that’s Bukayo Saka. Really stepped up when Arsenal needed him. Havertz and Martinelli great too and a good afternoon for Calafiori. Less so for Jesus…
Read Kaya Kaynak’s full Arsenal player ratings here.
Bukayo Saka was outstanding as Arsenal beat Southampton. (Photo by Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
16:58Key Event
Full-time
That is it! Arsenal have taken all the points here against Southampton but it was by no means easy!
Mikel Arteta’s press conference will follow!
16:55Tom Canton
Ramsdale save
Arsenal break with Trossard and Martinelli but the pass from the Belgian is too heavy and forces him wide. Martinelli tries a cross but the former Arsenal man grabs the ball away.
16:52Tom Canton
Havertz has the crowd
They are loving Havertz this afternoon. Excellent afternoon from the German and the crowd are into Waka Waka!
16:49Tom Canton
Nine added!
Where has he got that from?
16:48Tom Canton
Arsenal change
Riccardo Calafiori has been excellent and is replaced by Jakub Kiwior.
16:46Key Event
GOAL! Arsenal 3-1 Southampton (Saka)
Game over. That takes the pressure off. Havertz gets a kick to Trossard on the floor, he drives and it looks like the chance has gone. Sugawara has gifted the ball to Saka who smacks the ball in.
16:39Tom Canton
Close again
Sugawara with the cross from the right, no one there to tap it in.
Tomiyasu is about the enter the fray, likely for Partey. Indeed it is!
16:38Tom Canton
Side netting – Havertz
On his right foot shot from Havertz, always a challenge. Cannot quite get his foot around the ball enough.
16:37Tom Canton
Off the bar!
Southampton hit the bar again! Then Martinelli breaks down the left and Arsenal nearly find an opening. Phew!
16:36Tom Canton
Wide – Fernandes
Another warning shot from the Saints as they fire a deflected shot wide of Raya’s right post. Corner to follow.
16:31Tom Canton
Save – Ramsdale
Saka this time with the strike! Ramsdale does well after some beautiful footwork from the winger.
16:26Key Event
GOAL! Arsenal 2-1 Southampton (Martinelli)
The boy has done it again! Second home game in a row, Martinelli at the back post! Saka with the brilliant cross!
VAR checking… Check complete, very tight but onside.
16:25Tom Canton
Wide – Havertz
Havertz heads another corner wide.
16:21Tom Canton
Partey deflection
Arsenal corner, the first for a while.
16:20Tom Canton
Over – Rice
Over the bar but wow what a touch by Havertz! Great defending too by Calafiori to win the ball back.
16:18Tom Canton
Arsenal substitutions
Raheem Sterling and Gabriel Jesus are off.
Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard are on.
Jorginho also coming off for Mikel Merino.
16:16Key Event
GOAL! Arsenal 1-1 Southampton (Havertz!)
KAI HAVERTZ SCORES AGAIN!
Saka wins the back and lays it into Kai Havertz in the middle of the D, he curls the shot in off the post. Seven Emirates goal in a row.
16:13Tom Canton
Goal! Arsenal 0-1 Southampton (Archer)
The visitors have the lead. Archer is able to grab the ball and fire a deflected shot past Raya.
Sterling looked to have been fouled in the build-up but nothing was given.
16:10Tom Canton
Sterling into the box
Corner won as the winger does well to find space. The tackle is made to block the cross.
16:07Tom Canton
OFF THE BAR!
Very close to a Southampton goal. Dibiling driving into the box saw his cross blocked and rebound to Fernandes whose volley clipped the top of the bar and went out. Big warning sign.
16:04Tom Canton
Wide – Gabriel Jesus
Sterling picks up the ball and drives inside, a heavy touch sees Jesus grab the ball and spin. He curls an early effort round the post. Early positivity.
16:03Tom Canton
Second half
Here we go! A big half for the Gunners to try and find the breakthrough here at the Emirates with Man City also drawing with Fulham.
15:48Kaya Kaynak
Half time ratings
Raya 6
Partey 6
Saliba 6
Gabriel 6
Calafiori 7
Jorginho 6
Rice 6
Havertz 7
Saka 7
Jesus 6
Sterling 7
15:48Tom Canton
Half-time
Ramsdale punches away a Rice corner and brings an end to the half. Missed some big chances and the away side have held on well and frustrated the Gunners.
15:46Tom Canton
Big save! – Ramsdale
The former Arsenal man has stopped Sterling from tapping in a rebound and has paid for it. He is down in some pain.
15:45Tom Canton
Another block
Sterling this time into the box sees his shot blocked. Will there be a goal before the break? 2 added.
15:43Tom Canton
Delayed the restart!
Referee! The crowd screams as the Saints seem to have delayed the restart and it has gone unpunished.
15:40Tom Canton
Wide – Jorginho
Very close for Jorginho. It loops up to Jorginho too invitingly and he has to hit it but it heads wide, Sterling was millimetres from touching it in.
15:36Tom Canton
Over – Gabriel
Arsenal getting a bit frustrated here and Gabriel tries a Man City-esque centre-half long shot from outside the box goes over.
15:33Tom Canton
Free-kick
Yellow card for Bednarek who pulls back Jesus. Crossing opportunity for the Gunners from the left hand side.
Wasted.
15:30Tom Canton
Big chance
Another block! Must nearly be double digits as Arsenal break and Kai Havertz sees the ball fall to his feet and it is blocked again. Ramsdale collects harmlessly.
15:27Tom Canton
Man City trailing
Andreas Pereira has given the away side the lead at the Etihad Stadium
15:26Tom Canton
Player down
Ross Stewart has created a break in play. Arteta chatting to Saka and Jesus keenly, let’s see if it makes a difference.
Cameron Archer is on, Ross Stewart is on.
15:22Tom Canton
Yellow – Walker-Peters
Very bad challenge that. Saka down with studs but VAR seemingly have deemed it not harsh enough for a red.
15:19Tom Canton
Arsenal corner
Bukayo Saka this time with the shot. Another block comes in from Saints who are really hanging on at this point.
Ramsdale comes but misses, Saints defender clears for another corner.
Havertz has the ball in the net but the referee has blown his whistle. Corner will be retaken.
15:16Tom Canton
Save – Raya
First chance for the away side. The ball falls to the former Spurs man, Walker-Peters, who volleys it straight at the Spaniard.
15:13Tom Canton
Calafiori mops up
Really good work from the Italian to win back the ball. Arsenal are just suffocating possession away from the Saints.
15:12Tom Canton
Over – Havertz
The second sees Havertz reach the cross and it goes over. Had he left it for Gabriel, he was in a much better position.
15:10Tom Canton
Arsenal corner
Havertz should shoot, but on his right foot he goes for the cross. Southampton block it and it is a corner.
15:08Tom Canton
Nice try
A loose ball sees Partey given the chance to force a ball into the box, however it is just astray of Havertz.
Seconds later Jorginho tries another speculative ball in behind to Saka who cannot quite reach it.
15:06Tom Canton
Penalty claims
Ramsdale gives the ball away with a loose pass. Again Sterling is in the box and brought down. Again the referee says no.
15:05Tom Canton
More chaos
How has no one got on the end of it. The ball trickles across the box and no one is there to tap it in!
The ball from Saka on the right falls eventually to Jesus who sees his shot blocked.
15:04Tom Canton
Header blocked
Gabriel gets his head to it and then chaos ensues. Southampton cannot clear and the ball comes back with Sterling going down in the box but nothing is given.
15:02Tom Canton
Arsenal corner
Saka wins a corner on the right. Good strength against Walker-Peters.
15:00Tom Canton
Kick-off
Here we go! The away side get us underway here in North London.
14:56Tom Canton
The players are coming!
Here we go! The players are on their way out, what reception will Aaron Ramsdale get? I assume very good!
14:39Tom Canton
Southampton boss responds to Arsenal set-piece question
Russell Martin insists Southampton have plenty to be “excited and positive about” ahead of their Premier League clash with Arsenal at the weekend.
The Saints are currently 19th in the English top flight – only above Wolves on goal difference – and are yet to win any of their six league games. They travel to unbeaten Arsenal on Saturday with Mikel Arteta’s side looking to keep pace with Manchester City and Liverpool at the top of the table.
Martin criticised his players for their “ridiculous” first-half performance in Monday’s 3-1 defeat to south-coast neighbours Bournemouth, saying he was “really hurt” by his team’s lack of “fight, aggression and courage”. The Saints boss does believe his side can turn it around, though.
Read the full story here.
Southampton manager Russell Martin will bring his Southampton side to face Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday. (Image: James Gill – Danehouse/Getty Images)
14:24Tom Canton
Arsenal vindicated in Ramsdale sale
Arsenal enjoyed a busy transfer deadline day, although the hectic nature of the 24 hours might not have been enjoyable for the likes of sporting director Edu Gaspar. Plenty of business both with incomings and outgoings was completed and the club made a significant amount of money through sales.
Among the many that left, Aaron Ramsdale was sold to Southampton for £18million with add-ons potentially seeing the fee rise to as much as £25million with only a small amount reliant on the Saints staying up. The keeper now returns to make his first appearance at the Emirates Stadium since his move to the south coast.
Just over a year ago this entire scenario was perhaps unthinkable. Ramsdale finished the season having helped his side qualify for the UEFA Champions League for the first time in many years but was immediately relegated to the bench after the arrival of David Raya.
Read the full story here.
Aaron Ramsdale has endured a tricky start to life with Southampton while David Raya has flourished with Arsenal(Image: Vince Mignott/MB Media/Getty Images)
13:58Tom Canton
What are the odds?
Arsenal v Southampton