Southampton

Image source, Opta

After the October international break, the Opta supercomputer has updated its projected final Premier League table.

It is only seven matches into the campaign so much can still change, but the season is beginning to take shape. The supercomputer simulates thousands of seasons and takes the percentage each side finishes in each league position.

Southampton remain most likely to finish bottom but their one point from seven games has seen their chances increasing dramatically from 28.6% to 61%.

A solid start, despite no win yet, has seen Ipswich's probability of finishing 17th creep up from 12% to 15.2% - but a 19th-placed finish has increased from 21.3% to 25.3%.

Leicester's most likely finish has changed from bottom to 18th after their first win under Steve Cooper, while Crystal Palace's poor start has seen their chances of ending in their current position of 18th go from 1.1% to 7.2%.

Wolves finished 18th in 9.7% of simulations before a ball was kicked but the now-bottom side are now at 20.1% to end in that position after a winless first seven games.

The player who has covered the most distance in the Premier League this season is a Saint - and has run the same distance as it is from St Mary's to the edge of Greater London.

He has also sprinted more than anyone else for Southampton this season.

But who is he?

Find out here

Nat Hayward
BBC Sport journalist

Southampton boss Russell Martin has been speaking to the media before Saturday's Premier League home game against Leicester (15:00 BST).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• Ross Stewart's injury is "not long-term" but it is still "frustrating" for him after the striker limped off in his first start for nearly two years against Arsenal with a muscle problem: "We need to support him mentally and psychologically more than physically because it has been one setback after another."

• Will Smallbone and Kamaldeen Sulemana are fit again and available for the visit of the Foxes.

• On Cameron Archer: "He's been really good for us. I really love him as a boy - the willingness to work and get better, the want to help the team. Repetition after repetition, make a mistake and go again. He's a brilliant signing for us and I think he'll score a lot."

• Martin is keen to build on a promising performance at Arsenal before the international break: "The focus has been on us. We're at home off the back of a performance people feel good about in the building. Then we need to turn that into a win."

• On the challenge posed by Leicester: "Brilliant traits from last season when they were asked to play in a really clear way under Enzo [Maresca] and were the best team in the league. They were outstanding. Steve [Cooper] has put some of those attributes into his team. He and his coaching staff are excellent in terms of being organised and a threat on the counter-attack."

• Saints are still searching for their first Premier League win and clean sheet: "We should be on more points than we're on. We should have one or two clean sheets but we don't. So, we have to make sure we keep doing the right things and trust in the work and trust in each other it will come. The team has shown they can compete at times when we play like us and compete like us."

Follow all of Thursday's Premier League news conferences and the rest of the day's football news

Image source, Getty Images

We asked for one thing nobody is talking about at Southampton.

Here are some of your comments:

Jon: The biggest issue has been the lack of a high-quality striker. When we had Pelle and Mane we had two great seasons, then they left and we struggled to score until we signed Danny Ings. Since Ings left, lower quality strikers have needed the perfect pass and we have struggled to convert possession and good periods of play into goals and points.

Mike: By sticking to a possession-based approach, Russell Martin is paving his own management career. Saints don't have the quality to play like this. He should adapt a style to suit the players we have. I'm sceptical he knows how - or even that he's motivated - to change. Vincent Kompany failed at Burnley and look at him now.

Daz: One thing no one is talking about is what Russell Martin will do next after Saints. Once they sack him, where will he go next?

Graham: Let's face it, Martin has built a good Championship team but we are woeful at the top level. Relegation looks a certainty but maybe a new manager can get us back up and stay there.

One point from seven games has left Southampton joint bottom after seven games with debate growing over whether Russell Martin's style of play is suited to the Premier League.

An improved performance against Arsenal before the international break has, however, given fans something to cling to.

However, while performances and tactics are key issues, you know the things that are flying under the radar.

So when it comes to the Saints, what is the one thing nobody is talking about - good or bad?

Tell us here, external

BBC Sport pundit Fara Williams will be answering your questions, giving her insight and opinion around your club.

So what would you like to ask the former England midfielder?

What can your team achieve after their start to the season? Who has been your best player so far? What does the manager's future hold?

Send in your questions here, external

A relegation-related question was put to BBC chief football writer Phil McNulty in Monday's Q&A.

Rachel asked: Considering the start a couple of Premier League teams have had, have you changed your mind about who is going to go down this year?

Phil answered: I made the choice of Southampton, Leicester City and Ipswich Town, so I have to stick with that for now.

From what I have watched, though, I can see Ipswich making a decent fist of it and then we have the struggles for Wolves, who I thought would be doing better than they have - so that is always a bit of a wildcard.

I'm at Southampton v Leicester this weekend so maybe I'll learn more then.

Read more of the Q&A with Phil and the rest of the day's football news

Image source, Getty Images

Former Southampton captain Jason Dodd says he is concerned Russell Martin is unsure of his best side and that the manager's style of play may cost the Saints in the Premier League.

"I think when you looked at those first seven games you thought 'there's a few opportunities here to be picking up some points'," Dodd told BBC Radio Solent.

"We didn't really expect to beat Arsenal but in some of the other games you are expecting us to pick up points. That is a worry because I felt there were two or three wins in there early in the season.

"The worrying thing is from my point of view, I'm still not so sure the manager really knows what his best XI is.

"In the Premier League you can't be gifting goals to the opposition because they're that clinical and we're under pressure again. It does worry me.

"He has slightly changed it and he's not going sideways and backwards as much and we're being a little bit more forward thinking but I think that's just the way we are.

"We always resort back to that and we're gifting quality sides easy goals. That is going to cost us in the longer run."

When asked about the view that Martin's style of play will not work in the Premier League, Dodd added: "I agree totally.

"But then again this is the manager's philosophy, it's then up the players to not make the mistakes. You can blame the manager for how he wants them to play but then it's over to the players. If they're continually making these mistakes it is going to be costly.

"It's a catch-22 situation. This is how Russell Martin wants to play but have we got the players to be able to do that? Just in these seven games the vast majority of the goals we've conceded we've had a say in how we've conceded and that is a worry."

Listen to the full chat on BBC Sounds

Former manager Mark Warburton talks to The Football News Show about how managers can deal with mental health struggles while working at a club and what support there is available to them.

Watch The Football News Show's Mental Health special

Pat Nevin
Former footballer and presenter

The top sides picked up their customary three points, but the Premier League newbies are still trying to find that something special to get them out of the danger zone.

‌I reckon each now knows the player that is likely to save them, the question is, are these three going to be good enough at this level.

‌Leicester have Facundo Buonanotte, a class creative act on loan from Brighton who has the vision and skill to cause the best defences problems. Brighton might want him back as soon as possible, so the Foxes must get the most out of the 19-year-old starlet in the meantime.

‌Southampton continue to breezily give goals away in exactly the same style every week, but at the other end of the field they have two exciting prospects in 22-year-old Cameron Archer and 18-year-old Tyler Dibling. The latter has only started four Premier League games but has already shown that he could be their true star, with other bigger clubs already eyeing him jealously. He has to mature and grow quickly if he is going to save the Saints, but look how quickly Cole Palmer matured.

‌As for Ipswich, Liam Delap is clearly the man, having already scored four goals in eight games this season. The 21-year-old started out at Manchester City, but it isn’t easy to get a game there. There is a temptation to think of him as a bargain-basement Erling Haaland, but it is unfair to compare anyone with the Norwegian. Delap is a top striker in the making.

‌So the promoted clubs are relying on a 19-year-old, an 18-year-old and a 21-year-old to keep them in the Premier League.

‌Each is a long shot, but each at least gives them a chance.

Sign up to read more from Pat Nevin in his Football Extra newsletter here

Southampton's hierarchy are set to meet to discuss manager Russell Martin’s future at the club. (Football Insider), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Wednesday's full gossip column

Ray Hunt
Fan writer

Image source, Getty Images

After Monday’s dismal performance at Bournemouth, fans were preparing for more misery heading to the Emirates.

But it wasn’t the massacre we all predicted, and in fact, there were plenty of positives to take away.

Despite only one point from seven - the joint-worst start for 26 years - Saints frustrated the title challengers and even took a shock lead when Cameron Archer slotted home his first Premier League goal, 10 minutes after the restart.

Defensive improvements were evident, particularly in the first half, but would ultimately come unstuck.

Tyler Dibling continues to turn heads with his abilities, which has seen him included in all of Russell Martin’s matchday squads this season. He extended his good form with another eye-catching game, producing our best attacking moments - a shot which clipped the post and a mazy run leading to Mateus Fernandes hitting the bar.

Forgotten striker Paul Onuachu made his first appearance since August 2023, after a successful loan spell with Trabzonspor where he managed 15 goals in 21 appearances in the Turkish top flight - a team best. With the unfortunate injury to Ross Stewart, there may be a reason for Martin to use the 6f 7in Nigerian striker as a different option. Can we rely on him?

Perhaps the best positive to take was the response from Monday. A slither of hope will have been restored with this resilient performance. If it’s possible, the pressure may have eased on Martin.

With Leicester, Everton and Wolves sandwiching a trip to defending champions Manchester City, this has to spur them on. If we can show that same level of fight and eagerness to defend then who knows?

Martin said post-match: "They are not the games that are going to define us. The games that define us are coming up. We have to do better in those."

I am certainly more hopeful than I was after Monday.

Find more from Ray Hunt at the In that Number podcast, external

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A VAR related question was put to chief football writer Phil McNulty on Monday's Q&A.

@nubiblue on 'X' asked: Is the new improved VAR working? To me it continues to favour certain clubs.

Phil answered: First of all, I don't believe VAR favours certain clubs and quite honestly, I've not noticed too much difference or huge improvement.

Maybe a little less interference but I confess I lost a lot of faith in VAR after initially being a strong advocate.

I would be happy with semi-automated offside and line technology.

Image source, Getty Images

We asked for your thoughts after Saturday's Premier League game between Arsenal and Southampton.

Here are some of your comments:

Arsenal fans

Dan: Havertz has matured into a different player to the one from Chelsea. We needed saints to score to stun us into the performance the result deserved.

Phil: Surprised to see Partey in a full-back role but he did OK. Jesus looked lost and ran around not actually contributing much at all. Surely his confidence and football brain is on the wane. Thought Trossard and Martinelli should have started. We certainly struggled up front to create real chances but we were more composed when they came on.

Nurudein: What a slow start from Arsenal - too relaxed at home until Southampton provoked reactions from them. What a comeback though.

Emeka: Arsenal always make hard work of a normally easy three pointer. They need to start games very aggressively and focus on goalscoring to win the league.

Saints fans

Lynne: Played our socks off! Didn’t expect much out of this game when world class PSG couldn’t beat them but for a so called Championship team we gave it a good go!

H: Oh gosh. As much as I like Russell Martin and all he did for us last season I think he really needs to either change the system a lot or he will be sacked. One point from the season so far is horrific. We keep throwing it all away - well I guess that's the Southampton way now.

Bill: It was, to a degree, as expected. Arsenal are good, very good. We’re not so good but we have spirit. We gave the ball away badly, mostly in midfield, passing too slowly and nonchalantly. The defence was very good. When we attacked we rattled them no doubt. It felt the second goal killed us.

Daz: Shambles. Goodbye Russell Martin - hello Graham Potter! Change needed.

Image source, Getty Images

Former Southampton striker Jo Tessem says Russell Martin's side were "set up to get a result" in Saturday's defeat at Arsenal but saw individual mistakes punished in a "brutal" way.

Saints went 1-0 up in the second half at Emirates Stadium but the Gunners equalised almost immediately and went on to win 3-1.

"It's the quality of the Premier League," Tessem told the Goin' Home With Adam And Jo podcast.

"Little mistakes like the first goal when Flynn Downes misses that pass and Bukayo Saka picks it up, second touch into Kai Havertz who takes two touches and it's a goal. That's how brutal it is.

"But I liked the way we set up. The first half was probably one of the better halves we have had this season because we set up to play football and get a result instead of just having a style of football. This is what is important - you have to find ways of winning.

"It is a journey. You have to first ride off the pressure Arsenal put you under and defend for your lives. Saints did and then Arsenal lost their tempo a little bit, lost their motivation a little and players got tired.

"Then we scored through Cameron Archer and had quite good control of the game, started playing the football and had spaces, while Arsenal were a little bit frustrated.

"Then Flynn Downes gave the ball away. That changed the game and then Mikel Arteta made three changes which made a massive impact."

Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds

Highlights and analysis from Saturday's seven Premier League fixtures.

If you missed Match of the Day, you can catch up now on BBC iPlayer.

Listen back to full match commentaries on BBC Sounds:

• Man City 3-2 Fulham

• Everton 0-0 Newcastle

A new episode of Goin' Home With Adam And Jo has dropped on BBC Sounds.

Hear all the post-match reaction from Emirates Stadium as Adam Blackmore and Jo Tessem dissect a promising performance in eventual defeat to Arsenal.

Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds

Harry Poole
BBC Sport journalist

Image source, Getty Images

The pressure is mounting on Southampton manager Russell Martin to secure a first Premier League victory following the club’s joint-worst start to a league campaign - and poorest for 26 years.

Saints have taken just one point from their opening seven games since earning promotion back to the top-flight and they remain above only Wolves heading into the October international break.

While this always promised to be a difficult afternoon, there were undoubtedly positives for Martin and the travelling Saints support to take from the Emirates display - although, crucially, their side failed to take reward for their efforts.

The resilience shown in the second-half response when already 3-0 down at Bournemouth on Monday was once again on show as Southampton, albeit at times unconvincingly, kept Arsenal out in the first half despite enduring wave after wave of attacks.

Tyler Dibling shone as the away side grew in belief but, after Cameron Archer’s shock breakthrough ultimately only served to spark Arsenal into action, Southampton must return from the break fired-up and ready to fight when they host fellow strugglers Leicester City on Saturday, 19 October.

Image source, Getty Images

Southampton manager Russell Martin to BBC Match of the Day: "I think 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.

"Our mentality at 1-1 was much worse than when we scored. Emotions, it's nice to score a goal, it's a nice goal, but we have a problem and we concede.

"I think we're learning and growing and we're on a journey. But we're doing it under huge scrutiny and the intensity of the Premier League. I have to keep the guys on track and on path.

"There's a lot to be frustrated about, we don't have enough points on the board and a win yet, but I loved all of our resilience today. I loved all of that and if we continue to grow I'm going to be happy. "

Were you at the game or following from elsewhere?

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Come back to this page on Monday to find a selection of your replies

Follow reaction and read the match report

Seven matches make up Saturday's Premier League action, and we will bring you every moment.

• Crystal Palace v Liverpool - 12:30

• Arsenal v Southampton

• Brentford v Wolves

• Leicester v Bournemouth

• Man City v Fulham (listen live on BBC Radio 5 Live)

• West Ham v Ipswich

• Everton v Newcastle - 17:30 (listen live on BBC Radio 5 Live)

Kick-off 15:00 BST unless stated

Follow all of the action and reaction here