BOSS Ralph Hasenhuttl explained how Saints played "a little bit different" to end their winless run, adding: "It was time to show a reaction."

Saints' six-game streak without a victory came to a crescendo last weekend with a crushing 6-0 home defeat against Chelsea.

Hasenhuttl's response was to make four changes to his starting XI for today's visit of Arsenal, also switching to a more compact 3-4-3 system.

That saw the Gunners enjoy 76 per cent of possession and fire in 23 shots during the contest, with goalkeeper Fraser Forster impressing to secure a 1-0 victory, courtesy of Jan Bednarek's first-half strike.

Reflecting on the win, Saints' first in the league since February, Hasenhuttl said: "We knew that it was time to show a reaction and also to show that we can play a little bit different.

"Today it was a different game. Under 30 per cent possession, I think we’ve never had that this season so far.

"We didn’t want to give them a chance for an early ball win. We wanted to be compact, we wanted to minimise the mistakes we made in the last weeks, because you have to I think when you concede 13 goals in the last four games, or whatever.

"Then you have to change things, which we did today. I know we can play more football, I know that we can play better, but it was good to know we can defend like this and this was the goal for today.

"That you need a team that is really working hard, a goalkeeper who was exceptional today.

"Then football can also look like this sometimes, for three important points. When it’s needed, do it and keep on going."

Saints sit 12th in the Premier League table, one point off the top half with six games remaining.

They head to Burnley on Thursday evening (7.45pm).