Southampton legend Francis Benali was left impressed by an ‘outstanding’ Arsenal performance as Mikel Arteta’s side clinched a 3-1 win at St Mary’s on Tuesday night, as he told BT Sport (26 January, 10.30pm).
Just three days after they were out-fought and out-coached by Ralph Hasenhuttl’s pack of wild dogs in the FA Cup third round, the London giants took some measure of revenge on the South Coast.
A hungry, high-pressing Arsenal responded brilliantly to Stuart Armstrong’s third-minute opener in midweek, Arteta’s decision to hand Nicolas Pepe a new left-wing role bearing fruit as he scored an immediate equaliser.
Alexandre Lacazette then brilliantly created Bukayo Saka’s fifth of the season before the England international returned the favour with an inch-perfect cross that Arsenal’s number nine greedily gobbled up at the far post.
The sparkling Saka was once again the stand-out performer, while 20-year-old Emile Smith Rowe produced another tantalising Mesut Ozil tribute act in the play-making role, linking the play intuitively and waltzing around Southampton’s usually asphyxiating midfield.
Benali believes Arteta has finally struck the right balance at Arsenal, blending the experience of Xhaka, David Luiz and Lacazette with a couple of supremely-gifted youngsters.
“Supporters want to see players coming through their academy, breaking through into the first-team, and it’s that balance which you do need,” said Benali, who played over 300 league games for the Saints between 1988 and 2004.
“Yes, you need strengthening and signings coming in, you want those older heads who have been around for many years, but also the young talent coming through.
“It’s an exciting balance, if you can get it.
“The influence (of Arsenal’s youngsters) will grow off the pitch and in the dressing room as they play more games. But, from a performance perspective, outstanding.”
Remarkably, Arsenal have won five of their six games since Smith Rowe forced his way into the starting XI, with an aggregate scoreline of 14-2.
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