Southampton

Ray Hunt
Fan writer

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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.

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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.

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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

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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.

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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?

Have your say on Arsenal's performance, external

What did you make of Southampton’s display?, external

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

Chris Sutton is making predictions for all 380 Premier League matches this season, against a variety of guests.

For week seven, he takes on Will Champion and Jonny Buckland from Coldplay, whose latest album, Moon Music, came out on Friday.

Sutton's prediction: 3-0

Arsenal are so adaptable and know how to win any game, something you cannot say about Southampton at the moment.

I was a bit worried to see Saints boss Russell Martin call his players out publicly after their defeat by Bournemouth, because that never bodes well.

I have lots of admiration for Russell, who sticks to his principles about how he wants his team to play, but Arsenal are so streetwise and ruthless, this could turn into a tough afternoon for them.

The Gunners’ defence is so strong, they will keep a clean sheet - I am expecting everyone to go for a 3-0 Arsenal win here, the readers included!

Will and Jonny's prediction: 3-0

Read the rest of their predictions, and have your own say here

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Southampton boss Russell Martin says they are "frustrated" to only have one point since their return to the Premier League but insists there is still time to turn the results around.

Saints are 19th in the early table, level on points with bottom side Wolves and two behind Crystal Palace and Leicester. Before signing off for the international break, they face a daunting trip to Emirates Stadium to face last season's runners-up Arsenal on Saturday.

"We've got loads to be excited and positive about," said Martin. "I don't think anyone - fans, players, staff and owners - thought it was going to be easy.

"I still really feel we can achieve what we want to achieve. It's not done in the first month or two of the season - we need to keep growing and evolving. We're learning so much so quickly in the Premier League.

"We are only six games in. There's a lot of teams with the same points as us or with just two or three points more and that means it can all change so quickly.

"We have a big challenge on Saturday and we have to go into the international break feeling much better about ourselves than we did on Monday night [after the Bournemouth defeat].

"That's about putting in a performance we are proud of. If we do that, we have a chance - the same way we do in any football match."

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Earlier, we asked you for the four players other than Matt Le Tissier who have scored more than 40 Premier League goals for Southampton.

England international trio James Beattie, James Ward-Prowse and Danny Ings all scored more than 40 Premier League goals for Southampton, as did Latvian striker Marian Pahars.

Chris Collinson
BBC Sport statistician

Six games down and players are racking up the mileage in the Premier League. But who has been hitting the top marks so far?

Southampton’s Flynn Downes has put in the biggest shift, covering almost five kilometres more distance than any other player in the Premier League so far.

It is also notable too that striker Kai Havertz is working hard for the Arsenal cause as they challenge for the title once again, while Dwight McNeil is backing up his early goalscoring with some serious work rate.

Already the fastest player in Premier League history after clocking 37.8km/h against Brentford last campaign, it is no real surprise to find that Tottenham centre-back Micky van de Ven has been the fastest over the first six games.

However, it is also notable to see Manchester City's ruthless forward Erling Haaland up there too. Speed just one part of the monstrous physicality that gets him so many chances and goals.

Finally, what about the most sprints?

That goes to Newcastle winger Anthony Gordon who has made the most sprints in the Premier League so far this term.

He is 'running' away with it too, having clocked up 13 more than any other player.

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BBC Radio Solent's Adam Blackmore believes people should "hold fire a little bit" before criticising Southampton's start to the Premier League season, with Russell Martin's side only picking up one point from their first six fixtures.

Speaking on the Saints and Sinners podcast, Blackmore said: "I'm not feeling jaded by the start. It wasn't that long ago when we were all at Wembley having the most brilliant day out.

"We have only had six competitive games since then, but the world seems to have changed. This was always the danger. I have been saying it since last season: 'Wait until we get into the Premier League and everyone will be moaning again because we won't be able to win matches'.

"It is tough, so I think everyone just needs to hold fire a little bit."

Instead, Blackmore questioned the club's summer "transfer strategy", adding: "Ultimately, we know what Russell Martin is about but I want to see if he can grow and develop. Can he adapt his philosophy on the game?

"I think he has done that at times, such as in the play-offs and at the start of this season, and in spells of games they have been very good.

"But they just haven't got enough quality in the final third to win Premier League matches very often - and I know the owners say they have spent a lot of money.

"I don't like the transfer strategy of getting a £6m player here, a £15m player there and an £11m player there. I would say: 'Go and get a £35m player, who can win you a game, and then come back to me'.

"I would rather a smaller squad with better quality."

Listen to the full podcast on BBC Sounds

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Southampton’s 24 Premier League away games against Arsenal is the most one side has visited another without ever winning in the competition’s history (drawn eight, lost 16).

Matt Le Tissier scored exactly 100 Premier League goals for Southampton, but can you name the four other players who have netted more than 40 times for the Saints?

Answer will be revealed at 17:00 BST

Ciara Fleming
BBC Sport researcher

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

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• On if he feels pressure given Saints have won none of their first six games: "No one is happy that we haven’t won yet, myself more than anyone. The owners probably feel as frustrated as we do but also they have been so supportive and they want to work through things the same way as last year. The lines of communication are open and honest and I really enjoy being here."

• On outside noise: "I don’t own a tin hat. We have enough noise in our own minds as managers, trying to pick the right team, trying to give out the right information [to players], watching the opposition, managing and balancing all of that."

• He continued: "The opinions that matter are the ones of my bosses and the owners and the people at the club, those that I work alongside every day. As long as I am aware what they feel and we are all working together, everything else is just noise and irrelevant to my position."

• On Arsenal: "What Mikel and his coaching staff have done with that team is incredible - building the identity and feeling of the club - but they had some bumps in the road to get there. They are a real testament to perseverance, patience and clarity and what those can bring you. It is a really good example for us."

• On how Saints will approach the trip to title contenders: "We have an idea of how we can try and hurt Arsenal, as always. We want to go there and try and be the team that we want to be, but there are moments where we are going to have to dig in and defend properly and be resilient. We have to find some joy in the tough moments."

• He gave his opinion on the additional two-match suspension for defender Jack Stephens: "The Premier League and the FA have drawn a line in the sand, so I think as long as everyone is treated the same then we have to accept that it is what it is. Jack has accepted that he made an mistake and asked for an in-person hearing so that he could apologise."

• He added: "We will be watching now as a club to make sure that everyone is treated in the same way and if it is then we have to accept it and move on."

• He will be choosing from the same pool of players as against Bournemouth: "Will Smallbone is not quite back yet and Kamaldeen [Sulemana] is the same. Hopefully, after the international break they will be available. Everyone else is pretty much the same."

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