Premier League: Ronald Koeman hails 'biggest win' as Southampton beat Arsenal to stay fourth
Friday 2 January 2015 06:47, UK
Ronald Koeman described Southampton’s 2-0 win over Arsenal as their best of the season as they kept their place in the top four of the Premier League.
Sadio Mane and Dusan Tadic punished two defensive errors from the visitors as the Saints closed out a victory to avenge their 1-0 defeat at the Emirates Stadium in December.
Koeman’s men have proved to be a surprise package this season and are now genuine contenders for the top four, after a victory which the Dutchman is not underestimating.
“Maybe the best [win] so far this season, against a strong team, but well deserved,” he said.
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'Outstanding'
“I think we had to score more goals. That feeling is strange, to have a little criticism of the team to score more goals, but we had to kill the game after [going 2-0 up] in the second half.
“The team organisation was outstanding. Fraser Forster had one or two fantastic saves at important moments in the game, and it was well deserved.
“I had a good feeling during the game about the team organisation. It was difficult for them to create. We had a good spirit in the team, we had good pressing. They had a lot of ball possession but they didn’t create a lot, and that was the key to the victory today.”
Mane gave the hosts the lead 10 minutes before half-time with a stunning finish, curling the ball in from a tight angle after a mix-up between Laurent Koscielny and Wojciech Szczesny in the Arsenal defence.
'Great goal'
His strike came after both sides had good chances denied, and Koeman believes the opening goal proved vital, but was disappointed they couldn’t kill the game off.
“[It was] a great goal,” he added. "Difficult position to score from. At that time the game was in balance between Arsenal and Southampton, and after that I think we were more comfortable and they had to take more risks. They took that risk but we didn’t punish them with the chances we had.
“[The second goal] was a happy new year present from Arsenal because they made a big mistake and Tadic punished them for it. After that we had more chances to score.
“If you kill the game there’s nothing for them to do, but if they score to go 2-1 then maybe they’ll have the belief they didn’t have before.”
