Bukayo Saka sealed the game with a third goal, easing any remaining tension in what had become a tricky match.
Saka, the England international, not only scored but also assisted goals for Kai Havertz and Martinelli, after Southampton unexpectedly went ahead through Cameron Archer early in the second half.
With three goals and seven assists already this season, Martinelli has no doubt about Saka’s world-class status.
Saka’s seven assists in the Premier League are the highest in the league, putting him three ahead of any other player, and his contribution against Southampton saw him surpass Robert Pires’ record of 41 assists for Arsenal.
‘He’s unbelievable, and one of the best players in the world right now,’ Martinelli said of Saka.
‘He’s a really nice guy as well so we’re really happy to have him here as one of the captains.
‘It was an unbelievable ball from Bukayo and I was there to score. It was a really good moment for me and a nice goal.’
By coming from behind to beat Southampton, Arsenal maintained their unbeaten start to the campaign and stayed third in the Premier League, one point behind Liverpool.
Assessing Arsenal’s display against Saints, manager Mikel Arteta said: ‘The start was exceptional, the dominance, the chances. It was unbelievable not to go one, two, three goals up.
‘We conceded the goal and then it was game on. I thought the team reacted with a lot of authority and I am happy the team can react like this – but not happy after the chances we had that we had to go through that.
‘The substitutes changed the energy and also the feel in the crowd. We won in the end and I think we deserved it.
‘The way we started was phenomenal but we didn’t get our reward. We had a difficult context at 1-0 but we did it.’
Arteta singled out Havertz for huge praise after he netted his fourth goal in seven Premier League matches.
‘He’s really hungry, such an intelligent player, he is so focused to achieve what he wants and was exceptional again,’ Arteta added.
‘We lost so many players last international break, [it is a] very difficult schedule but this team finds a way. [It is a] good platform to continue the season.’
