Arsenal kept pace with Liverpool and Manchester City at the summit of the Premier League table with a 3-1 home win over Southampton on Saturday.
It took a jolt from Cameron Archer, who scored soon after the break, to shock the Gunners out of second gear at the Emirates, but they soon levelled through Kai Havertz.
Substitute Gabriel Martinelli then put Arsenal into the lead for the first time, before Bukayo Saka made sure of all three points with a late third.
Dom Smith was at the Emirates Stadium to rate the Arsenal players’ performances…
David Raya 6
Had little to do besides the goal which Archer fired in for Southampton. One good save in the second half.
Thomas Partey 7
Moved into right-back, but his performance didn’t drop. Solid again.
William Saliba 6
A couple of good blocks, but most of Southampton’s attacks instead came down the flanks.
Gabriel 6
A similar story to his centre-back partner. Won some key headers.
Riccardo Calafiori 8
A really good performance from the left-back, who skipped past challenges and looked to play positive passes.
Jorginho 7
The Italian was a calming presence in midfield, exactly what he was brought in to do.
Declan Rice 6
An assured display from the England man, but not his most influential game.
Kai Havertz 8
His bursts forward with the ball left Saints unable to stop him. Scored a superb equaliser.
Bukayo Saka 9
Picked up his seventh and eighth assists of the season, the second of which was a peach straight into Martinelli. Then made sure of three points with a fine goal late on.
Gabriel Jesus 6
There were one or two nice moments from the Brazilian, but twice he was too slow to pick out the killer pass.
Raheem Sterling 7
This was a good display from Sterling, on his first league start for Arsenal. End product lacking, but bamboozled the Southampton defence by running at them whenever he could. Replaced on the hour mark.
Subs:
Gabriel Martinelli (Sterling, 60’) 8
Instantly dangerous off the bench, scoring the second for the Gunners.
Leandro Trossard (Jesus, 60’) 7
Managed to get into the game as his half-hour cameo wore on, but without offering as much of an impact as Martinelli. Still bright, though.
Mikel Merino (Jorginho, 61’) 6
Brought on to keep the tempo up in midfield and did that.
Takehiro Tomiyasu (Partey, 83’) N/A
Jakub Kiwior (Calafiori, 90’) N/A
Not used: Neto, Butler-Oyedeji, Lewis-Skelly, Nwaneri
