Bukayo Saka caps Arsenal comeback and puts Southampton to bed | Premier League

At least Mikel Arteta can always rely on Kai Havertz these days. The Arsenal striker scored in his seventh consecutive home game, equaling Robin van Persie's record and sparking a dramatic comeback after his side fell behind against Southampton.

Still winless in seven games into the new season following their promotion last season, Russell Martin must have been dreaming of causing a major upset when substitute Cameron Archer silenced the home crowd at the start of the second half. Havertz had other ideas, however, and his equalizer three minutes later gave Gabriel Martinelli the impetus to come off the bench and score, before Bukayo Saka took the points on a day that was almost forgettable for Aaron Ramsdale against his former club.

Southampton had come to north London with hope rather than expectation, having never managed to win here in their 24 previous Premier League attempts. Given Arsenal's hectic schedule since the last international break, it was no surprise to see Arteta shuffle his squad with Raheem Sterling making his first Premier League start since his loan move from Chelsea. But while Martin Ødegaard confirmed in his program notes that his recovery from an ankle injury was “going better than we thought”, the absences of Ben White and Jurriën Timber meant Thomas Partey had to step in at right-back.

Ramsdale revealed this week that David Raya was the first to message him following his move to the south coast, insisting he holds no grudge against the man who replaced him as Arsenal's No1. He appeared to be in for a long afternoon with the hosts. He almost scored from a corner in the third minute before Southampton were able to force the ball away. Ramsdale must have momentarily forgotten which team he was playing for as he passed the ball straight to Sterling, who was clumsily knocked over by Jan Bednarek in the penalty area. To Arteta's disappointment, referee Tony Harrington rejected their requests for a penalty.

But apart from another corner headed over by Havertz, Ramsdale didn't have much to do until he confidently won a free kick shot into the box by Saka. By this point, former Tottenham player Kyle Walker-Peters had registered Southampton's first shot on goal and striker Ross Stewart had hobbled off and been replaced by Archer. Martin's defence, which was heavily criticized for its performance in last Monday's 3-1 defeat to Bournemouth, rose to the challenge.

The home crowd's frustration was palpable when Jorginho fired a volley just past Ramsdale's post five minutes before half-time after Saka had worked well down the right cross. Sterling almost found a way through when he was played through by Gabriel Jesus before Arsenal finally forced Ramsdale into a save when he pushed Partey's low shot around the post.

Undoubtedly, Arsenal got out of the blocks quickly at the start of the second half when Jesus shot narrowly wide from outside the box, with Arteta's team speech still ringing in their ears at half-time. But Southampton were inches away from breaking the deadlock after 18-year-old Tyler Dibling produced a superb run that left Riccardo Calafiori dead and Mateus Fernandes firing a flying volley just over. A few minutes later it was the Portuguese midfielder who set up Archer's opener, with the England U21 striker showing great composure in the penalty area and beating Raya at his far post.

Their lead didn't last long. It had been a quiet afternoon by Havertz's current standards, but the German striker decided to take matters into his own hands as he curled the ball off the post past Ramsdale and equalized within three minutes of going behind. Suddenly Arsenal had woken up and Southampton were clinging on for dear life. They were undone by a brilliant cross from Saka, who picked out an unmarked Martinelli at the far post and finished. Although the VAR waited nervously after Mikel Merino was found to be offside but did not affect the game, the goal was awarded.

Ramsdale did well to save from Saka at his near post as Arsenal looked to finish off the game. But Raya was lucky to escape after turning Dibling's curler around the post as it wobbled in the following corner and Taylor Harwood-Bellis somehow hit the crossbar. It was left to Saka to round things off with a first-time finish past Ramsdale after Havertz again won the ball in midfield.