Three things we learnt from Arsenal’s 2-1 victory over Southampton

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Southampton Will Continue To Flourish

The south coast outfit are an example to all Premier League clubs of how to manage change, while ensuring continuity of performances and results. With each new manager and departing key player, people ask if this will finally be the season when it all catches up with them; yet it never does. Under Claude Puel, the Saints look set to pull off the same trick again and push on for a top half finish.

Southampton looked a well-drilled outfit yesterday, pressing from the front early on, and their tight midfield three of Steven Davis, Jordy Clasie and Oriol Romeu was extremely hard for Arsenal to play through. Jose Fonte and Virgil Van Dijk are possibly the best centre back pairing in the division outside of the top four; both are physically imposing but also very comfortable on the ball. Arsenal tried to press them high early on, but were soon discouraged because the Saints played around them and kept the ball quite comfortably. Nathan Redmond and Jay Rodriguez were willing runners in behind Arsenal’s back four while Tadic added a sprinkle of creativity. They lack a thoroughbred striker to give them more firepower, but with talented Sofiane Boufal still to enter the fold, Southampton will be nowhere near trouble this term.