RAM-TASTIC STUFF
Arsenal ratings: Ramsdale equal to everything as Tomiyasu and Saka dominate in complete team performance in Saints win
ARSENAL rode out some early pressure to cruise to a comfortable 3-0 win against Southampton at the Emirates.
Aaron Ramsdale did not put a foot wrong between the sticks as Bukayo Saka, Takehiro Tomiyasu and skipper-for-the-day Alexandre Lacazette all shone in a brilliant team performance by the Gunners.
8
8
The Gunners started poorly and struggled to deal with the Saints' high press as they were forced into several sloppy passes deep inside their own half.
But the game was turned on its head in the blink of an eye when Kyle Walker-Peters hesitated in joining the press and a clever Gunners passage of play down the right saw the deadlock broken.
Tomiyasu did well to move the ball quickly and feed Saka, the England ace drove at Southampton's defence before playing it back for Lacazette who made no mistake and put the Gunners one up on 21 minutes.
That knocked the wind out of Ralph Hasenhuttl's men and it was 2-0 just six minutes later when Kieran Tierney twice got lucky before heading back for Martin Odegaard to head in.
And it was game set and match just 17 minutes into the second-half when Gabriel headed home from a corner to wrap up the points.
Here's what SunSport's William Pugh thought of the Gunners' individual performances.
Most read in Football
JOIN SUN VEGAS: GET A FREE £10 BONUS WITH 100s OF GAMES TO PLAY AND NO DEPOSIT REQUIRED (Ts&Cs apply)
AARON RAMSDALE - 9/10
Excellent stop from Adam Armstrong's effort in the first 10 minutes as the Gunners started sluggishly.
Equal to an awkward James Ward-Prowse free-kick soon after.
Down well to stop Nathan Tella's hard, low effort eight minutes after the break.
Tipped over Nathan Redmond's 72nd minute striker superbly which triggered cries of 'England's No 1' from the home crowd.
Did exactly what was required of him every time he was called upon.
TAKEHIRO TOMIYASU - 8
Did very well to turn defence into attack quickly as Arsenal beat the press and sprung a counter down the right-hand side to go 1-0 up.
Is rapidly becoming a reliable presence in both defence and attack.
Was recognised by the Emirates crowd early in the second-half - after tenaciously winning another defensive battle - with a chorus of 'Super Tom, super Tomiyasu!'.
8
BEN WHITE - 7
Very comfortable after the North Londoners rode out the early storm.
Earned his money.
GABRIEL (replaced by Rob Holding, 68 mins) - 7
Booked for a wild lunge on Armando Broja with barely three minutes on the clock.
Very sloppy pass just minutes later allowed the Saints in but the chance was spurned.
Terrible start.
Lucky not to give away a penalty just before the hour mark when he tangled with Nathan Tella and appeared to drag the forward down.
And had a goal rightfully disallowed for offside just moments later when he scooped the ball in from close range at a corner but VAR ruled it out.
No such luck for the Saints on 62 minutes when the Brazilian leaped like a salmon and powered home a header at the near post from Odegaard's corner. Redemption.
8
KIERAN TIERNEY - 7
Needed a couple of slices of luck to set up Odegaard to make it 2-0 just before the half-hour mark.
But was in the right position to make it happen.
Tried to volley Tomiyasu's cross at goal but missed it and was fortunate to inadvertently control it instead.
Then saw his first attempt at a cross blocked but it sat up nicely for him to head across the box for the Norwegian to nod in.
Decent showing.
THOMAS PARTEY - 6
Game seemed to pass him by at times.
But then there were flashes of brilliance when he drove through the heart of the Saints and set his team on the attack.
8
GRANIT XHAKA (replaced by Lokonga, 81mins) - 6
Seems to be working his way back to form slowly.
Blazed a mile over in comical fashion at the start of the second-half to remind the home crowd he's still got it.
Overall good defensive work against a team that didn't offer too much through the middle.
BUKAYO SAKA - 8
Booked for a trip on Walker-Peters as the full-back attacked the Gunners' box in the 17th minute.
Took advantage of Walker-Peters' hesitance to join the press, received the ball from Tomiyasu and used Arsenal's overload to break down the right and lay it back for Lacazette to open the scoring.
Looked dangerous throughout and was unlucky to see his curling shot cannon back off the post with 25 minutes to go.
Great on both sides of the ball. Worked his socks off.
8
GABRIEL MARTINELLI - 7
Excellent energy levels and always looked to relieve pressure on his team with long runs from the back.
But dawdled too often and didn't make the passes quick enough on several occasions. End product must improve.
Unlucky not to see his effort rewarded with a goal when his bending effort hit the post just after the hour mark.
MARTIN ODEGAARD - 7
Drew some frustrated shouts from the Gunners faithful in the early stages as the whole team started poorly.
But capitalised on Tierney's good fortune to ghost in and head the Scot's cross home from close range on 27 minutes to make it 2-0.
Should have hit the target from the edge of the box five minutes after the break but looped it over the bar.
8
ALEXANDRE LACAZETTE (replaced by Nicolas Pepe, 82mins) - 8
Right place, right time as Saka broke down the right and put it on a plate for him after 21 minutes.
Made no mistake with the finish and smashed a right-footed effort into the top corner to make it 1-0.
Linked up play well for the remainder as his team cruised to a comfortable win.
READ MORE SUN STORIES
Led the team well in Aubameyang's absence.
8
Subs
ROB HOLDING - 6
Didn't put a foot wrong in the 25 minutes he played.
NICOLAS PEPE - 6
ALBERT SAMBI-LOKONGA - 6
Get all the latest Arsenal news, updates and transfer gossip with our live blogs
Topics