Arsenal stroll past Southampton after Arteta dropped Aubameyang
Whatever doubts anyone might harbour about Arsenal’s standard, they continue to tick off the lesser assignments and will stay among the European spots if that trend is maintained. A sloppy start gave way to a comfortable afternoon’s work; even better, the goals were shared between a striker, a midfielder and a defender. In recent years Mikel Arteta would have revelled in a healthy haul that did not rely squarely on Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, so he could be doubly relieved to savour one here.
While Alexandre Lacazette, Martin Ødegaard and Gabriel can be feted for their contributions, their names took a back seat in the post-match conversation. Arteta must have thought he had left Arsenal’s soap‑opera habits behind after a summer revamp but he now faces a huge decision on how to deal with his club captain, who was dropped from the match‑day squad after returning late from a trip abroad. Aubameyang has let Arteta down before and been forgiven. On the available evidence that is not a state of affairs that can continue infinitely and it is no example to set when you are an elder statesman in the Premier League’s youngest squad.
The way in which Aubameyang’s peers went about their work may focus Arteta’s thinking when he considers who should lead his team. Their attitude was sound throughout, even if they are liable to perplex. There are no two ways about it: Arsenal are a strange side, rough around the edges, who can drift out of games for alarmingly long periods before illuminating them at a stroke. That is exactly what happened here, an error‑strewn first 20 minutes courting punishment before Southampton were put to the sword.
“We started a little bit nervy, gave some difficult balls away and could not dominate,” Arteta said. Aaron Ramsdale was called into action three times early on, most notably parrying one-handed from Adam Armstrong, and Arsenal seemed cowed by their late disappointment at Everton on Monday. The uncertainty over Aubameyang may not have helped but it was alleviated, for one night at least, by the player who took his place in attack.
Lacazette’s goal concluded a journey from the ridiculous to the sublime, which began when Ramsdale was almost robbed by Armando Broja. The goalkeeper improvised and set in train a sweeping move that broke the Southampton press. Eventually Takehiro Tomiyasu found Bukayo Saka in an inordinate amount of space on the right; Saka’s run was purposeful, his cutback precise, and Lacazette swept into the corner. Arsenal had almost rued loose passing from the back several times but when it works it pays off marvellously.
Arteta praised Lacazette’s “energy and commitment and the way he leads”, saying he “really affected the team”. He also had warm words for Ødegaard, whose third goal in as many games came within six minutes. Kieran Tierney miscued one attempted cross and had a second bite blocked but, after the ball looped up, nodded his third attempt into Ødegaard’s path. The resulting header was emphatic and proved a point his manager has hammered home. “He is making the box much more and now he’s understanding why we encourage him to do that because he is a match‑winner, that is the difference between a very good player and a match-winner,” Arteta said.
That was indeed game over, even if Southampton’s emergency goalkeeper, the 40-year-old Willy Caballero, had hitherto been untroubled. He saved from Saka before half-time but was beaten to a corner by Gabriel in the 62nd minute, adding gloss to Arsenal’s day. Gabriel had had a goal disallowed moments previously; he was also booked and had been behind much of Arsenal’s skittish early work, additionally flirting with disaster in a penalty-area coming together with Nathan Tella. His display was of a piece with the fare on show: far from polished, but effective and ultimately superior.
Southampton, who lost Armstrong and Broja to injury, found Ramsdale an impenetrable barrier as they sought a consolation; Saka and Gabriel Martinelli both hit posts at the other end for Arsenal.
“After the third goal the game is gone,” Ralph Hasenhüttl said. “You could feel the quality they had when they were in the flow.” Arteta must decide whether the reinsertion of his captain will add to that or not.
