Thursday 15 September 2016 10:18, UK
Dusan Tadic believes the first 30 minutes of Southampton's performance against Arsenal can be used as a blueprint for the remainder of the campaign.
The attacker's free-kick midway through the first half led to Petr Cech's own goal at the Emirates as the Saints went ahead.
They were pegged back by Laurent Koscielny, before a controversial late penalty by Santi Cazorla kept the points in north London.
But Tadic says Southampton played their best football of the season in the early stages, and should look to replicate that form moving forward.
"The Premier League is really hard and it is difficult but I think the first 30 minutes [against Arsenal] was our best under our manager," he told Soccer Saturday.
"We stretched them a lot and we caused them a lot of problems and I think this is how we should play because Arsenal are one of the best teams in England."
The defeat extended Southampton's wait for their first league win of the season, and Tadic admits they must improve after collecting just two points from their opening four games.
"It is always important to get good results and to play well," he added. "I think we can improve a lot in our game and it is important to do our best and to try to work hard to clean up some mistakes.
"We will give our best and we have a lot of games - the Europa League and Premier League and cups - and I think as time goes, we will be better and better."
Claude Puel replaced Ronald Koeman as Southampton manager over the summer, and the Frenchman has tinkered with his formation.
Summer signing Nathan Redmond has been used as a central striker, while the Saints have also used a diamond midfield on occasion.
It has meant a new role for Tadic, who typically played wide in an attacking three under Koeman, but the Serbia international is not concerned where he lines up.
"This is a new system for everyone," he continued. "I used to play normally in a 4-2-3-1 system and I can play in all three positions, left, right or number 10.
"For me, it doesn't matter which position I play, the most important is I play where the ball is, because I like to be on the ball.
"We need to listen to him [Puel] and he wants to correct things and explain our mistakes. He wants to make us better and this is a nice thing."
Check out the full extended interview with Southampton forward Dusan Tadic on Soccer Saturday, on Sky Sports News HQ from 12pm
