Joe Aribo Admits: My goal was long overdue

Joe Aribo says his deflected strike, his first of the season, was long overdue.

Southampton hammered visiting Swansea 5-0 at the St Mary’s Stadium to extend their unbeaten run  and the Nigerian scored the opening goal of the game on 17 minutes.

Aribo last scored for the Saints in October 2022 in their 2-1 loss at the St Mary’s Stadium against Everton with the 27 year old putting the hosts ahead .

‘It’s an amazing feeling for me and a long time coming,’ Aribo told the Daily Echo about his opener.

Southampton have now scored 12 goals without conceding in their last four home games. They have also extended their home unbeaten run to six games.

Aribo, according to the newspaper credited the team’s willingness to “fight for each other” as a key reason for why they’ve become so difficult to face at St Mary’s.

‘It’s an amazing feeling. It is so fitting to score so many goals when you are putting in good performances,” Aribo continued.

“It’s so important for us to be solid as a unit. When everyone is fighting for each other it’s going to be hard to break us down.

“That’s where the clean sheets have come from. We have also been clinical and relentless in front of goal.

‘We have got quality in the dressing room. Sometimes you might snatch at a shot when you are missing a lot of chances.

‘When you are confident and free flowing you can be calm and collected. That confidence comes from performances.

“We have been playing well so of course we are going to feel confident and try things. The manager tells us to express ourselves in the final third.’

Aribo has now scored thrice in 46 appearances since he joined Southampton from Scottish Premier League side, Rangers.