Southampton stunned Arsenal with a controversial opening goal in their Premier League clash, with Raheem Sterling at the center of the action during his first start for the club in the league.
Arsenal had dominated much of the first half, earning eight corners, but despite their control, they couldn’t break through Southampton’s defense or test Aaron Ramsdale, who was making his return to the Emirates Stadium.
The game marked a period of rotation for Mikel Arteta, who made several changes to the starting lineup, likely feeling the impact of recent injuries.
Among those changes, Gabriel Jesus, Raheem Sterling, and Jorginho were all brought into the starting eleven due to ongoing injury issues for Ben White and Jurrien Timber.
In midfield, Kai Havertz and Declan Rice were selected as the No. 8s, while Mikel Merino, who recently made his debut against Paris Saint-Germain, was named on the bench.
Arteta’s tactical adjustments also saw Thomas Partey deployed at right-back, similar to the way he was used during the early weeks of the previous season.
It was on Partey’s side of the pitch that Southampton’s shocking goal originated.
Sterling lost possession in the center of the field, allowing the visitors to quickly launch a counterattack.
Cameron Archer cut inside and curled a shot into the far corner of the net, catching Arsenal by surprise.
However, many Arsenal players were left frustrated, as they believed a foul had been committed on Sterling just moments before the goal, but the referee did not intervene.
The controversial incident saw Mateus Fernandes overpower Sterling in midfield before setting up Archer for his strike.
Despite the setback, Arsenal wasted no time in responding.
Kai Havertz soon leveled the score, with Bukayo Saka capitalizing on a defensive error by Southampton before setting up Havertz, who netted his fifth goal of the season.
Arsenal’s fortunes turned further when Gabriel Martinelli, who came off the bench, completely flipped the game in Arsenal’s favor by scoring a crucial goal to give the Gunners the lead.
Saka once again played the role of provider, highlighting his growing influence on the team’s attacking play.
Although Arsenal may have been disappointed to concede the opening goal in such controversial circumstances, they appeared poised to secure another three points, continuing their strong form in the league.
The result would further solidify their position as one of the top contenders this season.
Meanwhile, headlines have continued to surround Arsenal’s squad, including transfer news concerning Gabriel Jesus and the latest updates on Martin Odegaard’s injury recovery and expected return to action.
All in all, the match against Southampton reflected both the challenges and resilience that Arsenal faces as they aim to maintain their push for the Premier League title.
