Martin Praises Aribo’s Performance Despite Southampton’s Loss to Chelsea

Southampton manager, Russell Martin, expressed satisfaction with Joe Aribo’s performance despite his team’s heavy defeat to Chelsea in Wednesday’s Premier League match. Aribo, who had previously opened his goal account for the season against Leicester City on October 19, scored the equalizer after Chelsea’s Axel Disasi put the visitors ahead early in the game.

Aribo’s second league goal of the season came at a crucial moment, briefly restoring hope for Southampton. However, Chelsea quickly regained control of the match, scoring four more goals to secure a dominant 5-1 victory over the hosts at St Mary’s Stadium. Despite the heavy loss, Martin found some positives in his team’s performance.

“I learned a lot about some people,” Martin said after the match. “I thought Nathan Wood was outstanding on his debut, James Bree was excellent coming into the team for us.” He also highlighted Aribo’s contribution, praising the midfielder’s effort and resilience throughout the game.

Aribo, who had not featured regularly in the starting lineup, was one of the few bright spots in an otherwise disappointing performance for Southampton. Martin expressed pride in the players who stepped up, acknowledging their dedication despite limited playing time. “Joe Aribo was the same, the guys that have come in from not playing so much were really outstanding and I’m proud of them for that,” Martin added.

Though the defeat leaves Southampton with much to work on, particularly in defending, Martin’s praise for Aribo suggests the manager values the Nigerian midfielder’s continued contribution to the team. As Southampton looks to recover from the loss, they will hope to build on these positives in their upcoming matches.