Arsenal Player Ratings vs Southampton: Bukayo Saka Sparkles

Arsenal Midfielders Ratings

Thomas Partey (CM) – 7/10 – Silky smooth on the ball, Partey showed off his unique qualities in a decent outing for the Ghanaian. Some of his touches to side step his marker were excellent, while he got back to cover well, even from his own mistakes.

He provided all the elements that were missing from the last encounter here, including quickness of thought and breaking press.

Granit Xhaka (CM) – 7/10 – Made the two best chances of the first half for Arsenal with a pair of defence splitting passes. We saw composure on the ball as expected, while also getting another glimpse of the partnership he’s forging with Partey.

In terms of spacial awareness he rarely got caught out of position, and on the occasions where he and Partey were high up and left a gap between the midfield and defence, it was the result of a combined miscommunication, not any one players’ fault. The early workings of this double pivot, however, look positive.

Emile Smith Rowe (AM) – 7/10 – Didn’t do anything spectacular, yet even if he didn’t touch the ball at all his relentless pressing would’ve warranted his inclusion alone. Naturally game management and tiredness saw that mantra drop slightly.

Even still, he ran his socks off and helped build offensive triangles through the thirds, while the overloads he made on both inside channels were key to Arsenal’s dominant spells.