IT IS reasonable to fear that the influence of one of the long-standing Saints favourites is diminishing as his career now takes him into his 30s. There was a clear leaning towards favouring exuberance and malleability in the Saints ethos. But sometimes there is nothing more necessary than a little experience. Armstrong, starting for Hasenhuttl and providing his first goal since March during the 1-1 draw with Arsenal, admits himself he wants to be on the pitch more.
Stuart Armstrong said: “I’ve not started many this season and I want to play as much as I can so it was about taking the chance. Very happy with the goal of course, it’s all about trying to influence the game whenever I get the chance. To be involved against good opposition, I thought it was a great team effort and I’m glad to be a part of it.”
Netting a second half equaliser after Granit Xhaka had put the Gunners ahead inside the first 11 minutes, Armstrong’s strike secured a fifth point in seven days for Saints.
Stuart Armstrong added: “A very important point. A tough challenge against a tough team, we like to press and be aggressive but Sunday was a little different. We lost the ball early and we had to change, be a bit more patient and then it was all about counterattacks. Sometimes, it’s not easy waiting and letting them have the ball for a long time but against good opposition like that it has worked quite well. We’ve come away with a good point. If you’d asked a week ago we’d have definitely been happy with that. We were in a bad run of form so to switch that and have three positive games, and it’s all about points at the end of the day. We managed to get them so we’re very happy, and it’s not against bad opposition either.”
Hasenhuttl and his coaching team, including an increasingly animated Ruben Selles – who remains mic’d up with the analysts in the gods on the touchline – were forced into an early change. They did not have to switch personnel but instead employed a change of shape, with Lyanco struggling a bit at right-back before excelling through the middle. It saw Moi Elyounoussi – who assisted for Armstrong’s leveller – move to right-wing-back, as he had done temporarily following Kyle Walker-Peters’ injury at the end of the Bournemouth win.
Stuart Armstrong added: “You sometimes have ideas that don’t work but we changed quickly and that seemed to help things, shored things up. We’d like to be more aggressive but sometimes you can’t be and we looked more solid, picked up second balls and got up the pitch that way. When he (Elyounoussi) was driving with the ball I was trying to get inside and I know he’s the type of player to play those little through balls, it was perfectly weighted, perfect speed, no spin on that ball. It was a great little ball and a great performance from him.”
After three emotionally intense games – which had Hasenhuttl’s job security riding on them – in seven days, Saints now have temporary respite before travelling to Crystal Palace’s Selhurst Park on Saturday.
Stuart Armstrong said: “It will be nice to have a bit of a breather, it’s been very hectic recently. A bit of time to gather the thoughts, rest the legs and prepare to face good opposition.”
