Russell Martin is struggling to get a tune out of his Southampton side since they returned to the Premier League.
Southampton are without a win from their first six Premier League games of the season and worryingly the 3-1 loss against Bournemouth on Monday was arguably their worst performance yet.
Southampton were second best in every department against Bournemouth and Russell Martin‘s tactics did little to help them against an energetic, high-pressing Cherries side.
With Southampton blunt in attack so far this season, Martin made the strange decision to start without a striker against Bournemouth, instead using midfielders Mateus Fernandes and Tyler Dibling as a pair of false nines.
It is fair to say it did not work as Southampton were unable to get up the pitch and they immediately looked better when returning to a 4-3-3 for the second-half and playing with a centre-forward.
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Ross Stewart should be handed first Southampton start against Arsenal
Ross Stewart was the striker brought on at half-time in order to provide Southampton with a focal point.
Remarkably, the 45 minutes on Monday was Stewart’s longest appearance for the Saints despite the fact he signed in summer 2023 for £10 million.
The Scot arrived with an Achilles injury before finally making his long-awaited debut in November of last year. Stewart then sustained a hamstring issue in just his second cameo appearance which saw him absent until the last game of the regular Championship season.
Whilst it was a low bar given the shameful first-half display, Stewart’s introduction coincided with a much-improved 45 minutes for Martin’s side against Bournemouth and he should now hand the former Sunderland forward his first start for the club against Arsenal on Saturday.
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Southampton will need out-ball against Arsenal
Martin has a very particular style of playing and he will never deviate too far away from his possession principles.
However, away at title-contenders Arsenal, Southampton may have to accept they are likely to have little choice but to go a little more direct at times.
This is where Stewart can be key in relieving the pressure as the striker is a physical presence and willing runner who can win aerial duels and bring others into play.
Last month Martin described Stewart as “looking brilliant” as he stepped up his return to fitness and it is now time for the Saints boss to unleash the striker in the Premier League properly.