Subedited by Will Witts
Ahead of Southampton’s trip to North London, Russell Martin has drawn similarities to the pressure his opposite number, Mikel Arteta, faced at the start of his tenure as Gunners boss.
When asked about Arteta’s side, Martin said, “I watched them on Tuesday night, and they were outstanding, but they had bumps in the road on the way to getting to where they are, but they stuck with it.”
“It is about having conviction in what you do.” He added, “It is probably a path you do not want to be on if it is really easy.”
Embed from Getty ImagesMartin has claimed that he is blocking out the noise surrounding his managerial position assuring that he only listens to the opinions of those inside the football club. “I didn’t listen to the noise last season when we went 25 games unbeaten, and I don’t now.”
The Saints will be without Jack Stephens after he picked up a three-match ban for swearing at officials in Southampton’s 3-1 defeat to Bournemouth, which has been added to an already active sideline ban thanks to a red card in the game against Manchester United.
“We are disappointed and frustrated to be without him. I have had a lot of dialogue with him. We have to accept it and move on.”
Martin will now be without Stephens for five games.
Arteta has backed Martin amidst the pressure he is facing. The Spaniard said, “They are really good, and he’s really good,” when asked about Martin’s side.
Aaron Ramsdale will be back at The Emirates for the first time since his move to the South Coast. “I was really grateful for what he did. We believed in his potential and he showed it.”
Embed from Getty ImagesI hope he’s grateful as well
