Southampton v Arsenal Preview

Southampton v Arsenal, Tuesday 28th January 7.45pm, St.Mary's Stadium, Premier League



Premier League

1. Arsenal 51pts
2. Man City 50pts
3. Chelsea 49pts
4. Liverpool 43pts
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5. Spurs 43pts
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9. Southampton 31pts


Gunners aim to extend winning streak to six as Pochettino aims for three points

Victory against Southampton on Tuesday evening will see Arsenal extend their lead at the top of the Premier League to four points. Title rivals Manchester City and Chelsea don't play until Wednesday night, giving Arsene Wenger's side a great opportunity to pile the pressure on Manuel Pellegrini and Jose Mourinho's men.

"Everybody goes to Southampton now knowing they are in for a very difficult game," Wenger told reporters on Monday morning. "They have done a remarkable job with their Academy - Theo Walcott, Gareth Bale, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Luke Shaw, James Ward-Prowse....it's amazing."

The Saints have won just 2 of their last 11 Premier League games, and haven't beaten the Gunners in their last 8 meetings. A win would extend Arsenal's winning streak in the League to six games, however, Southampton boss Mauricio Pochettino is adamant his side can claim the three points.

"Arsenal have a great structure and great footballers, that's allowed them to be up there fighting for the title," the Argentine said at his pre-match press conference. "We will try to win the game. One of our strengths is that we believe we can win every game. We will attack."

Both sides come into the game on the back of FA Cup fourth round wins, with Arsenal defeating Coventry 4-0 and Southampton seeing off Yeovil 2-0.


Match Facts

* Arsenal have hit the target with 53% of their shots this season, the best accuracy rate in the Barclays Premier League.

* The Gunners have scored more headed goals (9) than any other team in the top division; these goals have come from seven different players.

* 68% of the goals Arsenal have conceded this season have been shipped in the second half of games; the highest proportion in the top flight.

* Only one team has managed to score more than one goal against Arsenal in their last 21 Premier League matches (Man City 6-3 Arsenal).

* Southampton conceded just five goals in their opening 11 Premier League games, but have shipped 20 in the last 11 with that run starting with a 0-2 defeat against Arsenal in November.

* The last time Southampton beat Arsenal was in November 2002, with a James Beattie brace helping them to a 3-2 win at St Mary’s.


Team News

Arsenal

Arteta (calf), Vermaelen (knee) & Ramsey (thigh) all return to the squad after injury, but Wilshere (ankle) is expected to be rested. Walcott (knee), Diaby (knee) & Rosický (nose) are all out.

Southampton

Wanyama (leg) & Boruc (hand) return to the squad, but Ramírez (knee), Lovren (knee) & Osvaldo (suspended) are all unavailable.


  

Very difficult match. Southampton might not be as good as before, but they are still very tricky away and have players who are more than decent in their team.

We have to use the same formula of scoring early and putting pressure on and then see where that leads us. We should be winning this game. Just need to be focused like always.

Ramsey, Arteta and Vermaelen are back. Our bench looks fantastic and should help us in the 2nd half.

Wonder who will come in for Wilshere though. Arteta/Ramsey can both come in but they lack fitness n sharpness.

Oxlade again sounds more realistic. Oxlade-Flamini will also be more balanced as Oxlade can play as a pure CM and not be restrictive.

Can also start Cazorla at RW and Podolski at LW.

Interesting to see if Ramsey makes the first team, would be great if he did!

Wow, didn't realize our injury list was so short. Walcott and Diaby the only long term absentees. Rosicky should be back soon and isn't Sanogo back in training?

Posted the team I want to see on Twitter earlier:

Szczesny; Sagna, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Monreal; Flamini, Ramsey; Cazorla, Ozil, Podolski; Giroud

In my mind, it just makes sense to start Podolski. Chamberlain is just coming back from injury and should be eased back in as much as possible. Gnabry is young and we shouldn't overload him with too many games too soon. More importantly, Podolski looks in good shape. It'll be pretty damning if he ends up on the bench again after scoring twice in his last game.

The game, of course, is going to be difficult but Southampton aren't as good right now as they were when we faced them at the Emirates. They'll be positive and attack, but I think if we play as we usually do we'll pick them off (and having someone as clinical as Podolski in the side would really help with that). And even though Lallana and Rodriguez and playing well for them right now, our defense gives me every confidence that they'll contain them.

Goes without saying that a win is massively important. It's a rare chance to put some distance between us and City before they play a tough fixture away to Spurs, so we really need to put the pressure on them.

Yea Agreed with that team as well. Podolski should keep his place after the Coventry game.

Great work Sam

another win to keep this streak going in a tough away much would give us great confidence ahead of crazy schedule
with personnel missing on either side we should get a 1st goal and bank on our defensive solidity
much like 2nd half of last season

Hopefully a good collective work in midfield will ensure we have too much for them much like home match we got it done

lets do this, cant afford to drop points here
COYG

Great job Sam.

Should be interesting to see the line up, Podolski must start no mater what.

i would like to see this team as the first 11 for the remaining of this season
while Wilshere can rotate with Ramsey and also play in the wings.. Cazorla can rotate all along the front 3, i dont think it will affect his gameplay.. while Ox and Gnabry can conribute from the wings.. Rosicky too can play alternate game as CAM or in one of the wings..
Poldi needs to be played.. he is most threatening of our attacking players and now with Walcott out we need a regular source.. but doubt whether it will happen.. fear that Wenger will keep playing Cazorla in his left as he has picked form and Poldi from the bench.. using Gnabry, Ox or Wilshere on the right..
but having Cazorla, Poldi and Ozil on the field at the same time may force Ramsey to play a more defensive role curbing his attacking instincts and forward runs..

Hoping that without Wanyama they'll struggle to put as much pressure on our midfield as they did last time around. He was instrumental in fouling stopping our player before they launched counter attacks.

Great work Sam.

Some early teams new, from Wayne "Exclusive" Veysey, is that Wilshere hasn't travelled and that some players are suffering from illness.

The last time we had players suffering from illness, we played shite iirc.

Damn.

Is it true tonight's match not televised?  

A must must must win today, and hope Spurs can draw or beat City.

City have Spurs tomorrow and Chelsea on Monday, if we win both our games we could create some kind of a gap, Southampton will be frakin' tough though...

urbaNRoots wrote:City have Spurs tomorrow and Chelsea on Monday, if we win both our games we could create some kind of a gap, Southampton will be frakin' tough though...

It would be tough..if we make it to be, I think we will win 1 or 2-0.