Hasenhuttl: Fraser Forster almost missed Arsenal game through injury

manager

Ralph Hasenhuttl

has stated that match-winner

may have been forced to miss the team's win over

Arsenal

due to an injury.

With a sequence of incredible saves, the Saints' goalkeeper put on a show at St Mary's. Before the half, he was on hand to deny

Gabriel Martinelli

and

, before repeating the feat after the break to put the Gunners at bay. The former England international was not finished yet, as he was on hand late in the day to claim a series of high balls into the Southampton box as Arsenal sought an equalizer.

Hasenhuttl admitted that he wasn't sure he'd be able to summon the stopper just a day before, but he was eventually left waxing lyrical about Forster's performance after the final whistle. "At first, I was impressed that he made it to play today because he was out after the workout yesterday," he remarked.

"After an accident, he developed an ankle condition. Doctors, physiotherapists, and everyone else pushed him to participate, and it's nice to get such a prize after such a game. It's very great, and I'm happy for him." In what has been a rollercoaster time on the South Coast, Forster's performance against the Gunners is yet another watershed moment. Following his tenure at Celtic, he was a standout performer before falling out of favor, eventually returning to the Scottish giants on loan last season.

He appears to be firmly back in the club's plans now, though. Hasenhuttl remained tight-lipped on a possible new agreement, despite the fact that his present contract is slated to expire at the end of this season.

"He wants to win with Southampton before he comes to us," he added. "As I usually say, we're in discussions, and I don't think it's the right time to talk about it right now," she says, "but he has a lot of points on this side."

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