Premier League

AARON RAMSDALE claims he left Arsenal because he did not fancy the idea of winning trophies while sat on the bench.And as a starter for Southampton on his North London return, he nearly put a dent in their bid to claim the Premier League crown come May.Kai Havertz led the way as Arsenal mounted a valiant comeback against SouthamptonCredit: APGabriel Martinelli also netted as the Gunners won 3-1 at the EmiratesCredit: GettyBukayo Saka confirmed all three points as Arsenal put the pressure on Man City and LiverpoolCredit: GettyCameron Archer’s 55th minute shock opener stunned an already-panicky Gunners side – only for their electric reaction to mirror one of wannabe champions.Kai Havertz netted three minutes later for his seventh goal in seven successive home games – a joint-record for Arsenal at the Emirates.Super-sub Gabriel Martinelli then completed the turnaround in the 68th minute before Bukayo Saka ended the contest in the 88th minute, adding to his two assists in style.Saints boss Russell Martin said last weekend’s 3-1 defeat to Bournemouth was “painful” but he should be proud of his battling side here – even if it is one of their worst ever starts to a top flight campaign with a draw and six defeats.READ MORE IN FOOTBALLArsenal meanwhile are now without defeat in 16 games in all competitions – the longest run under Mikel Arteta – and their unbeaten streak at home to newly promoted sides has stretched to 41 games.Yet for the second week in a row, having left it late to beat Leicester, Arteta’s boys give reason to think that this title race is going to be the most topsy-turvy in recent memory.Martin made four changes, including surprise first starts for striker Ross Stewart and defender Ryan Manning. Stewart had just 10 minutes of Prem experience under his belt.Arteta’s starting line-up was anything but settled. Holding midfielder Thomas Partey was at right-back and centre forward Kai Havertz was in an attacking midfield role.Most read in FootballFOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALSThis one was also deemed suitable for the fringe players to impress. Jorginho, Gabriel Jesus and Raheem Sterling in for Martinelli, Leandro Trossard and injured Jurrien Timber.Partey’s position was the most concerning, however – the Ghanaian had not played there since a 2-2 draw at home to Fulham back in August 2023.I’m mum of an Arsenal star – I have a side hustle to help parents of Premier League footballers The Saints could sense that, hence why from kick-off Ramsdale launched one onto Partey’s head as an early livener.Ramsdale had been serenaded by the Ashburton Army before the first whistle, and spent a lot of time hugging his old pals in the tunnel with a wry smile.That smile was perhaps because he knew those warm feelings would soon evaporate from the first whistle and his gloves would be kept plenty warm from a peppering of shots.The first corner arrived in the third minute. Arteta had hinted at a change of approach to confuse Ramsdale – a man with an in-depth knowledge of the successful routines created by set-piece coach Nicolas Jover.But those were just mind games as Arsenal’s corner beasts stuck to the script, crowding the back post with Gabriel the roaming heading assassin.Cameron Archer gave Saints the lead in the 55th minuteCredit: GettySouthampton could not believe they had gone ahead at the EmiratesCredit: GettyYet Ramsdale and a dogged Saints defence had done their homework and stayed resolute. Arsenal had a total of eight first half corners that never came close to finding the net.The visitors were playing the frustrating role incredibly well. At one point, devoid of answers, Declan Rice went short with a corner. Unheard of in the Jover playbook.In open play, Arsenal were just as loose and sloppy, wasting chance after chance while Martin’s boys flung themselves in front of shot after shot.Bukayo Saka initially gave Kyle Walker-Peters a torrid time before the Saints defender ganged up on the England star with Ryan Manning to limit his influence.Kai Havertz pulled one back for Arsenal just minutes laterCredit: ReutersThe German has entered a fine scoring runCredit: EPAAnd with Partey not a natural right-back accustomed to the art of the overlap, Saka had little joy, and eventually got a good studs-up kicking from Walker Peters that warranted a yellow.Sterling and Jesus – eager to impress – were falling flat. Sterling had two mazy runs – one from a poor pass out from Ramsdale – while Jesus’s lightning reactions were missing.The Saints were forced into an early change in the 25th minute as Stewart hobbled off for Archer. In hindsight, an inspired switch.Martin would have taken a lot of first half positives with some neat play out the back on occasion without really bothering David Raya up the other end.Gabriel Martinelli fired home to give Arsenal the leadCredit: APHe made a real impact after coming into the teamCredit: GettyMeanwhile, Jorginho volleyed just wide and Partey had Arsenal’s first shot on target in first half injury time – palmed away by Ramsdale and almost tapped in by Sterling but for Jan Bednarek’s timely interception.The hosts were nervy after the break. Perhaps they still had scars from blowing a 2-0 lead against Leicester last weekend before a late, late show to somehow win 4-2.Mateus Fernandes should have scored in the 49th minute, clipping onto the roof of the net from a brilliant drive by Tyler Dibling.Saints continued to smell blood and got their just rewards. Sterling was weak in midfield from contact by Fernandes who then looped a ball over the backline into Archer’s feet.Saliba got back, only to deflect Archer’s shot into Raya’s far corner.None other than Bukayo Saka wrapped up all three points for ArsenalCredit: PASaka’s late impact sent the home fans wild with celebrationCredit: GettyMartin’s celebration was epic, but so was Arsenal’s reaction from a lazy pass by Flynn Downes allowing Havertz to race away and beat Ramsdale off his right post.Arteta was relieved, but still rung the changes with an incoming trio of Martinelli, Trossard and a Prem debut in Mikel Merino replacing Sterling, Jesus and Jorginho.It had the desired effect. Saka – finally with a bit of space against a tiring Saints defence – with a superb cross the back post for Martinelli to ping first time through Ramsdale’s legs.Comeback complete, but Arsenal’s surprising lack of control and composure meant this game still threatened one last twist.Dibling ducked and dived and smacked the post from range, hitting Gabriel on its way, and Taylor Harwood-Bellis clattered the bar with Raya punching the ball off the defender.Yet just like against Leicester, another last-gasp burst cemented the win – Saka latching onto Sugawara’s dallying in the box with a potent finish.READ MORE SUN STORIESWith a maddening nine minutes added time, and the home end chanting Ramsdale’s name, the keeper was able to soak up the atmosphere of a club who may well go on to claim silverware this year.He, most definitely, will not.Mikel Arteta will have been pleased to see his side maintain their title challengeCredit: EPARussell Martin is still without a win this seasonCredit: Reuters More

MATEO KOVACIC spent most of his first season at the Etihad playing second fiddle while Rodri called the tune.When Ilkay Gundogan returned to his old stomping ground in the summer, it seemed the Croatian midfield grafter would slip another place down the pecking order.Mateo Kovacic scored twice for Manchester City as they edged past FulhamCredit: GettyAndreas Pereira gave Fulham a shock lead from close rangeCredit: AFPKovacic’s deflected strike levelled things up for the championsCredit: PAThe Croatian then helped himself to a second shortly after the breakCredit: ReutersKovacic was instrumental in ensuring Man City won on Saturday afternoonFulham had a significant share of the match and could have stolen a pointBut suddenly, out of nowhere, Kovacic hasn’t merely taken a seat in the Manchester City orchestra, but has the baton in his hand, conducting the whole damn show.Where the loss of Rodri for the season, sidelined with a smashed cruciate, was initially seen as a door slamming on hopes of five titles in a row, it could actually be the opposite.It could be the stroke of misfortune for the Spaniard, yet slice of luck for the Croat, which sees Kovacic nail down a slot as the midfield kingpin and puller of strings in this term’s assault.As someone in these parts once memorably said across the other side of town, football, bloody hell, eh!READ MORE IN FOOTBALLKovacic’s talents have never been in doubt, of course. A four-time Champions League winner – three with Real Madrid and one against City with Chelsea – is proof enough.Yet on the Etihad’s all-star cast of Galacticos, you’d have to look a long way down the list to find his name. Grit, not glamour or glitz, is the order of the day for him.A great option to chuck from the bench, to give one of the front liners a bit of a breather, but to most City fans, more of a side dish than a main course kind of guy.Put it this way, Kovacic isn’t a name on the back of too many youngsters’ shirts. Or at least he hasn’t been, until the last month or so, anyway.Most read in FootballCASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERSJeremy Doku lashed in a sensational third for Man CityCredit: ReutersIt was his first Premier League goal of the seasonCredit: PARodrigo Muniz reduced the deficit and made for a tense climaxCredit: GettyMidfielder Kovacic completed 77 of his 86 passesUnlikely that may be. But then again, so was the prospect of Kovacic emerging as a two-goal transformer of a game that City were frankly stumbling through in the first half at least.An early slash wide from Gundogan apart and an angled effort even closer from Erling Haaland aside, it was actually Fulham who had the better openings.Inside Kyle Walker’s wife Annie Kilner’s play for his £27m fortuneThe best of which went to Adama Traore, when Antonee Robinson’s delicious outside-of-the-foot pass set him on a foot race with pint size Rico Lewis.It was an unfair contest in terms of pace and poundage, but after Traore outmuscled the youngster, he could only drive against Ederson’s legs.A fateful tale of what was to come for the Spanish flier, but more of that later, because on 27 minutes it didn’t seem to matter, as the Cottagers bagged a well earned lead.And what a well crafted opener it was, too, with Raul Jiminez’ thigh control to take Alex Iwobi’s pass, and then his rub-your-eyes half-volleyed backheel cross.It certainly had City’s backline baffled, dropping over Manuel Akanji and in front of Lewis as Andreas Pereira stretched out a leg to volley in. A simple finishing touch to majestic crafting.Two minutes later and that lead should have doubled as Traore found himself staring keeper Ederson in the eyes once again.Again Iwobi was the architect, sweeping the ball left to his unmarked team-mate. This time he went high, and a point blank strike ended with the fans behind the goal.How fateful it proved, because with Fulham still cursing the miss, up stepped Kovacic to level it up.Gundogan’s corner was never remotely cleared, and when it fell invitingly 12 yards out, the City midfielder pounced.With a huge slice of fortune, too, it should be said clipping off Joachim Andersen to leave Bernd Leno totally wrongfooted.Balance restored? Normal service resumed? Routine victory now on the cards? Well it certainly seemed to be heading that way when Kovacic pounced again two minutes into the second half.And while his opener may have come with a hefty dose of good luck, this one was pure class. A finish that had Pep Guardiola leaping around punching the air on the touchline.Bernardo Silva did superbly to chest down and lay off Phil Foden’s deep cross almost in the same motion.But not half as well as Kovacic did in side footing a magnificently clinical, curling strike arcing away from Leno and into the corner.Lewis then struck a rocket from the edge of the box which clipped a stooping Haaland and fizzed inches wide, and you thought it was a question of “how many”.Until, as least, Traore showed substitute Kyle Walker, making his 400th appearance, that maybe he isn’t the fastest guy in the game after all.For the Fulham winger left him for dead to storm through…and then repeated his clanger of the first half by driving at Ederson’s legs.A miss that looked even worse when Jeremy Doku nearly took the net off its moorings with a rocket to earn breathing spaceREAD MORE SUN STORIESYes, Rodrigo Muniz ensured a couple of squeaky bum moments with a last-gasp lifeline for the visitors, but by then the damage had been done. For City, the points were safe.Rodri may be second favourite for the Ballon d’Or but for now at least Kovacic is loving life as the headline act. More