Ralph Hasenhuttl: Southampton won three points and “respect of the crowd” with Arsenal win

Ralph Hasenhuttl’s start to life at St. Mary’s couldn’t have gone any better.

The Austrian’s Saints side beat Arsenal 3-2 in an exciting, back-and-forth Premier League encounter on Sunday.

After being pegged back twice, Charlie Austin netted Southampton’s winner with just five minutes remaining.

Read about Southampton’s win over Arsenal here.

The win lifts Saints out of the relegation zone on goal difference.

But Hasenhuttl believes today’s win over the Gunners wasn’t only important for the Premier League table - it was doubly important to get the Southampton fans back on side.

Hasenhuttl’s arrival at Saints has seen the club lead a charm offensive to win back disillusioned fans, including free beer tokens for Southampton season ticket holders.

Free beer is one thing, a victory over a top side is another.

”The atmosphere after the game gave me goosebumps,” Hasenhuttl told Sky Sports after the game.

”It was an unbelievable moment to celebrate with the crowd and the team.

”They put everything on the pitch, we deserved it.

”Everyone saw today the ways we have to go. We have to stay committed and stay together. The way they worked together today was fantastic, without this we wouldn’t have got the chances against Arsenal.

”I think when you invest a lot, you earn your rewards. We earnt more than the three points today - we got the respect of our crowd.”