Southampton put in a battling display at The Emirates on Saturday before ultimately succumbing to a 3-1 defeat against Arsenal.
Russell Martin was left feeling let down by his Southampton players after their 3-1 loss at Bournemouth on Monday night.
However, it was a much improved performance against Arsenal as Southampton showed the fight that was sorely lacking against Bournemouth and defended very well for the most part.
Some of that is down to the fact Martin set up with a back five to make the Saints harder to beat, with Kyle Walker-Peters playing as a centre-back for the first time in his career.
Having kept Arsenal out, it looked as though a shock could be on the cards as Cameron Archer fired Southampton in front on 55 minutes for his first Premier League goal since signing.
It was short-lived, though, as Arsenal equalised three minutes later before goals from Gabriel Martinelli and Bukayo Saka wrapped up a 3-1 home win.
- READ MORE: Yukinari Sugawara and former Southampton loanee send messages to Arsenal star after 3-1 defeat
Alan Shearer predicted Southampton to lose 3-1 vs Arsenal
Martin will have started to really feel the pressure after Bournemouth, but the performance against Arsenal may well have helped his cause despite defeat.
The cold reality is that Southampton are on just one point after seven Premier League games, though, and the first game back after the international break at home against Leicester City is massive.
Archer did so well to cut inside from the left and fire past David Raya on Saturday but Gary Lineker has revealed that was the exact moment Alan Shearer predicted the Saints would lose 3-1.
Speaking on The Rest is Football podcast, Lineker explained: “I remember, as soon as Southampton scored, and they started causing Arsenal a few problems in the second half, as soon as they scored, Al (Alan Shearer) goes 3-1, it will be 3-1.”
Russell Martin running out of time at Southampton
Whilst no one would have expected Southampton to go to title-contenders Arsenal and get a result, the fact they went 1-0 up before giving up the lead so quickly is disappointing.
- READ MORE: Micah Richards labels one Russell Martin tactic ‘ridiculous’ after Southampton defeat vs Arsenal
The longer the game went on at 1-0 to Southampton, the more nervy The Emirates would have been and Martin’s side could have edged closer to the full-time whistle.
Most frustratingly is that the second and third goals came from mistakes playing out from the back; something that has been a feature of the Saints this season.
Despite a valiant effort, Martin will know the St Mary’s clash against newly-promoted Leicester next time out could decide his fate.