Arsenal v Southampton review




Odegaard


Arsenal v Southampton review 

By Tom Masters


Arsenal’s latest slump came to a resounding end on Saturday, as the Gunners triumphed 3-0 against lowly Southampton at the Emirates Stadium. 

 

Goals from Alexandre Lacazette, Martin Ødegaard and Gabriel saw Arsenal rise up to sixth in the Premier League table, overtaking rivals Tottenham Hotspur, although they do have two games in hand. 

 

Southampton applied pressure and almost caught Arsenal out early on with the pressing game, but the Gunners were able to play through the press and score a sensational goal through Lacazette, with almost every player touching the ball, including keeper Aaron Ramsdale. 

 

From that moment on Mikel Arteta’s men were in almost total control, doubling their lead before half time and Gabriel sealing the deal in the second half. 

 

Much needed win for Arteta 

 

Pressure was starting to mount again on Arteta and Arsenal following a dip in form which saw the Gunners lose to Liverpool, Manchester United and struggling Everton in their past four matches, which saw them fall behind both United and Tottenham and further behind fourth-placed West Ham. 


Gabriel

Yesterday’s win comes at a superb time in terms of the race for the top four but also comes as a great result after captain Pierre Emerick Aubameyang was left out of the squad due to a disciplinary breach earlier on in the day. 

 

Pressure was removed but more importantly it showed that the previous losses were in fact a blip and nothing more. 

 

Ødegaard emerging as vital component 

 

With Emile Smith Rowe and Bukayo Saka proving to be essential members of the Arsenal attack, the one thing Arsenal were lacking in the midfield trio was that goalscoring central midfielder. 

 

They had hoped the Norwegian Ødegaard would prove to be just that and now after a fairly slow start to the season he is delivering for the Gunners. 

 

The 22-year-old scored his fourth Premier League goal of the season with the header against Southampton and alongside Saka and Smith Rowe, Arsenal have a very bright future indeed. 

 

Where does this result leave Arsenal? 

 

It is certainly an important win, especially considering the resurgence of Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur in recent weeks. 

 

Arsenal will be hoping that they can match their rivals for that final top four spot but face the problem that those rivals have far nicer fixture runs in recent weeks. 

 

United’s next five fixtures are against Brentford, Brighton, Newcastle, Burnley and Wolves, which compared to Arsenal’s run of West Ham, Leeds United, Norwich, Wolves and Manchester City seems far easier. 

 

West Ham themselves have a nice run too in comparison to the Gunners. 

 

So Arsenal will be hoping that they can navigate their tougher run and hope that their opposition slip up in the process. 

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