Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta says Bukayo Saka possesses leadership qualities beyond his years after the teenage winger produced another impressive performance in Tuesday night’s 3-1 win at Southampton. The 19-year-old scored in the first half and assisted Alexandre Lacazette’s close-range effort in the second to help secure the victory that lifted Arsenal to eighth.
“He’s really humble, respectful and at the same time has that character to demand the ball, to make decisions that are not very usual for his age,” Arteta told reporters. “We need that leadership and he’s gaining that with his attitude. He’s all the time asking to train more to improve in areas that he can do better. That was certainly one, producing the final bit in the box to score or assist.
“If he’s able to do that with the intelligence that he has, with the work rate that he shows on the pitch and with the capacity that he has to understand the game in different positions, then he becomes a really different player.”
Arteta praised his side, but the Spaniard said there was still a lot of work to be done. “I think we were good from the start. We conceded a goal from a corner but responded straight away. We were good on the ball, we got out of trouble and made some big chances,” Arteta said. “Our pressing was brilliant. We were good on the break. It was a strong performance.”
It was a marked change from Arsenal’s display at the same venue last Saturday, where Saints dumped them out of the FA Cup. “It is tough to win here, they are strong and have been in form. It showed a lot of intelligence and resilience from the team in the way they managed the game,” Arteta added, before sounding a note of caution. “We have still a lot to do. We have to improve, be humble and train good for the next game,” he said ahead of their home fixture with Manchester United on Saturday. Arteta said midfielders Emile Smith Rowe and Thomas Partey would be assessed ahead of home game against United after being substituted due to “discomfort”. 
On Tuesday, Southampton, took an early lead through Stuart Armstrong, but the London club fought back with Nicolas Pepe levelling before goals from Saka and Lacazette wrapped up the points. Lacazette almost put Arsenal ahead in the second minute as he found himself one on one with Alex McCarthy, but the Southampton keeper was able to block the Frenchman’s shot with his legs and the ball went behind for a corner.
A minute later Southampton went ahead when Armstrong met James Ward-Prowse’s corner with a thunderous half-volley, but Pepe drew Arsenal level five minutes later with a cool left-footed finish from Granit Xhaka’s pass.
Saka put the Gunners ahead six minutes before halftime, latching on to a superb pass from Lacazette before rounding McCarthy, who had rushed out of his goal, and slotting the ball home.
Southampton’s high-pressing style paid dividends in terms of winning possession in dangerous areas, but their problems in front of goal continued and Bernd Leno made some fine saves to keep them out. The game was put beyond doubt in the 73rd minute as Saka collected a superb cross-field pass form Cedric Soares before crossing for Lacazette to score the third.
Ward-Prowse had a late chance from a free kick but Leno made another excellent save. Teenage winger Saka was delighted to get his fifth Premier League goal of the season as his side made amends for the defeat at the weekend. 
“It was much better than Saturday, Saturday was disappointing. We are the (FA Cup) holders and we took it hard. We exploited their weaknesses and got the win we deserved,” he said.