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Arsenal Vs Southampton: Player ratings – Eddie Nketiah rescues Gunners

By Andrew Dowdeswell

Arsenal, Eddie Nketiah (Photo by Robin Jones/Getty Images)
Arsenal, Eddie Nketiah (Photo by Robin Jones/Getty Images) /
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SOUTHAMPTON, ENGLAND – JUNE 25: Eddie Nkethia of Arsenal celebrates after he scores a goal to make it 1-0 following a mistake from Alex McCarthy of Southampton during the Premier League match between Southampton FC and Arsenal FC at St Mary’s Stadium on June 25, 2020 in Southampton, England. (Photo by Robin Jones/Getty Images)
SOUTHAMPTON, ENGLAND – JUNE 25: Eddie Nkethia of Arsenal celebrates after he scores a goal to make it 1-0 following a mistake from Alex McCarthy of Southampton during the Premier League match between Southampton FC and Arsenal FC at St Mary’s Stadium on June 25, 2020 in Southampton, England. (Photo by Robin Jones/Getty Images) /

Arsenal travelled to Southampton on Thursday evening in desperate need of a victory. Here are the player ratings from the 2-0 win.

It was not the prettiest performance. But it was one of the most important wins of the season for Arsenal. Mikel Arteta took his team to Southampton on Thursday night in desperate need of a victory. After two successive losses following the restart and the team lacking in confidence and ravaged by injuries, the Gunners needed a win.

And so, when Eddie Nketiah stole the ball from Alex McCarthy and rolled it into an empty net, thanking his lucky stars as he did, it set the team on their way. Joe Willock added a clincher late on while Rob Holding led an excellent defensive effort to see out an away clean sheet and secure their first away win under Arteta.

Here are the player ratings from the 2-0 win.

SOUTHAMPTON, ENGLAND – JUNE 25: An NHS logo is seen on the shirt of Emiliano Martinez of Arsenal during the Premier League match between Southampton FC and Arsenal FC at St Mary’s Stadium on June 25, 2020 in Southampton, United Kingdom. (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)
SOUTHAMPTON, ENGLAND – JUNE 25: An NHS logo is seen on the shirt of Emiliano Martinez of Arsenal during the Premier League match between Southampton FC and Arsenal FC at St Mary’s Stadium on June 25, 2020 in Southampton, United Kingdom. (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images) /

Goalkeeper

Superb. Commanded his area very well, communicated clearly with his defenders in front of him, released several beautiful long passes to release Aubameyang and Nketiah. His short passing does need to improve — the clipped passes to the full-back never worked — but his shot-stopping was solid and he rarely looked flustered. Very encouraging.. GK. Arsenal. EMILIANO MARTINEZ. 7.5