Southampton manager Russell Martin was impressed with the performance of substitute Joe Aribo, who helped turn the tide in their hard-fought 1-0 victory over Everton at St Mary’s Stadium.
The match was marked by tension and drama, with both teams struggling to find the back of the net.
Everton’s Jesper Lindstrøm tested Aaron Ramsdale early on, while Cameron Archer missed a golden chance for Southampton, shooting wide after being released by Flynn Downes.
As the game intensified, Everton skipper James Tarkowski received a yellow card for a ferocious tackle on Archer.
The visitors grew into the game, with Iliman Ndiaye firing over from a short corner.
Southampton introduced Tyler Dibling in place of Ryan Manning, adding to the enthusiasm among the home fans. Dibling’s driving run and clever pass set up Kyle Walker-Peters for a cross that Adam Armstrong narrowly missed.
In a heart-stopping moment, Everton substitute Beto smashed the crossbar from point-blank range.
However, Armstrong sealed the victory five minutes from time, sweeping home Yukinari Sugawara’s cutback.
The drama didn’t end there, as Beto thought he had equalized in the dying minutes, only for his goal to be ruled out for offside by the narrowest of margins after a lengthy VAR check.
Aribo’s energetic presence stabilized Southampton’s midfield, allowing them to dictate possession and create scoring opportunities.
His contributions proved vital in securing the Saints’ first Premier League win of the season.
The 38-year-old gaffer, Martin, lauded Aribo’s influential display after coming on at halftime for Adam Lallana.
“Joe Aribo had some tough moments today, but what he gives us out of possession and his willingness to still take the ball is huge,” he stated.
Southampton’s win marks a crucial turning point in their season, with manager Russell Martin emphasizing the importance of this victory in their fight against relegation.
