Bukayo Saka is the Premier League’s top teen as Arsenal avenge FA Cup defeat to Southampton but Thomas Partey limps off injured

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Bukayo Saka showed he is THE teenage sensation in this season’s Premier League as he helped Arsenal beat Southampton 3-1 at St Mary’s.

The 19-year-old put his side 2-1 up five minutes before the break as he rounded Saints goalkeeper Alex McCarthy before assisting Alexandre Lacazette for his goal in the second half, which sealed the win for the Gunners.

And Arsenal have put themselves in contention to qualify for a European spot

Earlier, Stuart Armstrong gave Southampton the lead with an excellent volley but Nicolas Pepe replied with a neat finish.

A good all round performance by Arsenal but Saka is the standout player and his goal brought up a very impressive stat.

It was Saka’s fifth Premier League goal of the season, meaning he’s scored more goals than all the other teenagers in the top flight combined (4).

The result sees Arsenal climb to eighth in the table, however, the victory was somewhat marred by Thomas Partey limping off injured late on.

The injury to Partey will be a concern, however

The win moves Mikel Arteta’s side above Southampton and up to eighth in the table, just five points behind London rivals West Ham – who occupy fourth place after a win at Crystal Palace earlier in the evening.

Arteta was still unable to call on captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, who remains absent due to a personal matter, but he made five changes from Saturday as Saka and Lacazette scored on their recalls.

Lacazette should have opened the scoring inside 50 seconds but could not beat Alex McCarthy in the Southampton goal having been played in by Granit Xhaka.

Instead, Saints would hit the front from a well-worked corner as James Ward-Prowse crossed in for an unmarked Armstrong to thrash home a superb finish.

Armstrong gave Saints a third-minute lead with a well-taken volley

But Arsenal levelled five minutes later with this strike from Pepe

The visitors did not allow their heads to drop and were level soon after, Pepe – who had let Armstrong run off him to score – made amends by collecting another good Xhaka pass and holding off his man to equalise.

With both sides looking to take the lead, Bernd Leno made a fine stop to keep out a Che Adams header.

It would be Arsenal who led at the break as Lacazette slipped a ball through to Saka, who rounded the onrushing McCarthy with ease and showed good composure to slot in his fifth of the season.

The England international would then set up the third, latching onto an inch-perfect crossfield pass from Cedric Soares and crossing for Lacazette to tap in.

Saka rounded McCarthy before slotting in with his right foot

The victory was put beyond doubt when Lacazette scored the third

The win is a fifth from Arsenal’s last six Premier League games following the turnaround in form which started with a Boxing Day victory over Chelsea.

Arteta refused to be drawn on his ambitions for the season the last time he spoke to the media but, with high-flying Manchester United next up at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday, this win certainly means the Spaniard will continue to look up, rather than down.

Conversely, Southampton slip to 11th and have now won just one of their last seven in the league following their fine start to the campaign.

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