Not many Southampton fans would have expected the fight the Saints would put up against Arsenal on Saturday, and even fewer could have guessed that Michael Obafemi would have made his first Premier League start of the season as well.
The Irish teenager played 79 minutes against the Gunners, with stats from Understat showing that the Dublin-born attacker was impressive in his first Premier League outing of the campaign, managing two key passes for the Saints as Ralph Hasenhuttl’s side failed to hold on to their 2-1 lead as Alexandre Lacazette managed a 96th-minute equaliser.
Will Southampton's season kick-off from here?AbsolutelyNo way, we need major improvements |
Indeed, it was an impressive performance for Obafemi, who stated to Reuters after the game that he believed he played well for Southampton and that he hopes he can maintain his place in the first-team.
The youngster said: “I was buzzing to be playing and I think I showed out on the pitch why I should be starting. I just kept my head down and kept working hard and waited for my chance to come. I thought I played well against Arsenal. I feel like I am doing well at the moment, so hopefully, I can carry on doing that.”
Compared to an Olympic sprinter by Southampton’s official website, Obafemi has been a player on the cusp of being a regular in the senior squad after becoming the first player to represent the club to be born in the 21st century, yet injuries and a stacked attack have kept the Irish international from nailing down a place in the XI.
Yet Obafemi’s performance against Arsenal might have caught Hasenhuttl’s eye. Indeed, it was the first time in quite a while were Southampton, in an attacking sense, were breathless at some points and could have scored more than just the to goals against the Gunners.
The 19-year-old can emerge as a wildcard option for the Austrian manager, and upcoming games against relegation rivals Watford and Norwich City should be seen as two opportunities for Obafemi to yet again make a positive impact in the XI.
