Kai Havertz's home comforts inspire Arsenal's comeback win over Southampton | first division

At least Mikel Arteta can always rely on Kai Havertz these days. The Arsenal striker scored for the seventh consecutive home game to equal Robin van Persie's record and inspire a dramatic comeback after his team found themselves losing to a struggling situation. Southampton.

Still without a win in seven games after being promoted last season, Russell Martin must have been dreaming of causing a major upset when substitute Cameron Archer silenced the home crowd early in the second half. Havertz had other ideas and his equalizer three minutes later gave Gabriel Martinelli the boost to score a second before the outstanding Bukayo Saka sealed the points on a day that was almost unforgettable for Aaron Ramsdale against his former club.

“He wants more and is not satisfied with what he is doing. There is still another level to him,” Arteta said of Havertz’s performance. “Something has changed in him and that confidence, you can really feel it. Now he is winning football games.”

Southampton had arrived in north London with more hope than expectation, having never managed to win here in 24 previous attempts in the first division. They left without having managed to improve that dismal record, even if Martin was able to cheer himself up with a feisty performance after a testing start to life in the top flight. “I think we are learning and growing. “We are on a journey,” reflected the Southampton coach.

Given Arsenal's hectic schedule since the last international break, it was no surprise to see Arteta rotate his team and give Raheem Sterling his first Premier League start since arriving on loan from Chelsea. But it was not until he and Gabriel Jesus were removed that Arsenal took over after Ramsdale had played his part in keeping his former employers in line.

The England goalkeeper revealed this week that David Raya was the first person to message him following his move to the south coast and insisted he holds no ill will towards the man who replaced him as Arsenal's number one. But Ramsdale must have momentarily forgotten which side. He was playing in the opening minutes here when he passed the ball straight to Sterling, who was clumsily brought down by Jan Bednarek inside the area. Much to Arteta's frustration, referee Tony Harrington dismissed his penalty appeals.

However, apart from another corner that Havertz headed in, Ramsdale didn't have much else to do in a strangely subdued first half. Having been harshly criticized for his performance. in the 3-1 defeat against Bournemouth Last Monday, Martin's defense faced considerable challenge. The home crowd's frustration was audible when Jorginho volleyed just over Ramsdale's post after good work down the right flank by Saka. Sterling almost found a way through when Jesus played him through before Arsenal finally forced Ramsdale into a save when he pushed Thomas Partey's low shot around the post.

Southampton came within inches of breaking the deadlock early in the second half when the impressive 18-year-old Tyler Dibling left Riccardo Calafiori for dead, with Mateus Fernandes firing just over with a flying volley. The Portuguese midfielder was the architect of Archer's opening goal minutes later, the striker displaying great composure inside the area to beat Raya at his far post.

His leadership did not last long. It had been a quiet afternoon by Havertz's recent standards until the German striker decided to take matters into his own hands when he sent the ball past Ramsdale and tipped it off the post to equalise. Suddenly, Southampton were hanging on for dear life. They were undone shortly after by a brilliant cross from Saka that found an unmarked Martinelli at the far post to apply the finish.

Ramsdale did well to save Saka as Arsenal tried to finish the game. But Raya was lucky to escape after spinning Dibling's curler around the post when it fluttered into the next corner and Taylor Harwood-Bellis somehow hit the crossbar from close range.

It was up to Saka to calm Arsenal's nerves with a first goal past Ramsdale, who was roundly applauded by both sets of fans at the final whistle.