Cameron Archer scored his first Premier League goal since signing for Southampton as he netted the opener in the 3-1 defeat against Arsenal on Saturday.
Russell Martin decided to throw Ross Stewart in for his first ever Southampton start at Arsenal after an injury-ravaged year at the club.
However, Stewart’s rotten luck continued as he was forced off after just 27 minutes through injury.
This presented Cameron Archer with an opportunity and it was one the young striker took as he fired Southampton ahead on 55 minutes.
Unfortunately, it meant little come full-time as Arsenal quickly responded through goals from Kai Havertz, Gabriel Martinelli and Bukayo Saka to flip the game on its head and win 3-1.
Cameron Archer questions Southampton ‘courage’
Archer was part of the Sheffield United side that suffered Premier League relegation last season with just 19 points.
Ben Brereton Diaz also spent the second-half of the 2023/24 campaign on loan at the Blades and both players will be desperate to avoid a repeat this season.
Archer spoke on the defeat to Arsenal post-match on Saturday and provided a damning assessment on Southampton’s display, saying: “We all know that Arsenal are a top side. I feel like if we played with a bit more courage, we could have given them an even better game.
“We defended well in the first half and we came out a bit more in the second half. We got the goal and three minutes later they scored.”
Southampton have had a habit of letting goals have a big impact on their performance this season ad Archer highlighted this, adding: “That’s part of the game. We can’t let it affect us when a goal goes in. It’s all about what the manager wants at the end of the day and he wants results as well.”
Southampton must beat Leicester City next match
The game against Arsenal was seen by most supporters as something of a free hit and, in truth, many were fearing the worst.
That was amplified after a dismal display as Southampton lost by the same scoreline against Bournemouth on Monday but the Saints showed far more fight at The Emirates.
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The key is now to take that into the next game at home against Leicester City after the international break where nothing other than a first Premier League win of the campaign will do.
Martin will want to see the courage that Archer referred to after Arsenal or he could well face the possibility of losing his job.