ARSENAL- SOUTHAMPTON: PREVIEW

Despite the narrow loss 1-0 to
Manchester United before the
international break, Arsenal remain two
points clear at the top with Liverpool and
surprisingly, today’s opponents,
Southampton, breathing down the
Gunners’ necks. This fixture presents the
Gunners with the perfect opportunity to
consolidate their position at the top of
the table and a victory will go a long way
in restoring confidence back to the team.
Mauricio Pochettino has done a marvelous
job at the Saints, particularly as the team
struggled badly in the Premier League
under Nigel Adkins after he had secured
back to back promotions from the lower
divisions in English football. Pochettino
was a no-nonsense defender in his
playing days and he has adapted a strong
defensive approach on his team.
His water-tight defense has leaked only
five goals this season, which is the best
defensive record in the Premier League
and the second best defensive record in
Europe, as they are just behind the
phenomenal AS Roma.
Following Arsenal’s defeat at Old Trafford,
Southampton are currently the most in-
form team in the Premier League and in
their last six games, they have won three
(Swansea, Fulham and Hull), drawn two
(Stoke and Manchester United) and one
defeat (Sunderland). They have also faced
fewer shots on target than any other side
in the Premier League this season (31).
Pochettino’s starting lineup doesn’t have
so many household names, but as a unit,
they have become a force to be reckoned
with this season. Artur Boruc was
released from AC Fiorentina and found a
new lease of life on the south coast. This
season, he has produced outstanding
performances on a weekly basis. His
defense also do their bit as Jose Fonte
and Dejan Lovren have become a
formidable defensive pairing while the
energetic youngsters, Luke Shaw and
Nathaniel Clyne, bomb forward to support
the attack.
In midfield, the signing of Victor Wanyama
from Celtic was a stroke of genius by
Pochettino as the Kenyan enforcer
alongside French sensation, Morgan
Schneiderlein, are responsible for closing
down opposition players further up the
pitch, a tactic that has worked wonders
for the saints this season. In attack, Adam
Lallana has massively improved and he
recently earned his first England cap in
the loss to Germany. James Ward-
Prowse, Jay Rodriguez and Rickie Lambert
(he has been involved in seven goals thus
far) have also contributed to the team’s
cause this season.
Stats
Southampton now have the longest
unbeaten run in the Premier League
(eight games) but they were whooped
convincing (6 – 1) by the Gunners last
season and Arsenal are unbeaten in their
last 18 league home games against the
Saints. Arsenal have not lost a home
league game against Southampton since
November 1987, winning 13 and drawing
five of their 18 matches since.
Southampton’s win ratio against Arsenal
in the Premier League (14 percent) is the
lowest of any side they’ve played more
than three times in the competition.
The Gunners recent form is mixed with
three wins (Crystal Palace, Liverpool,
Dortmund (away)) and three defeats
( Chelsea, Dortmund (home) and Man
Utd). We have not failed to score in two
successive Premier League games since
August 2012 and the Gunners have the
chance to win five successive Premier
League games at the Emirates for the first
time since April 2012.
Injury News
Arsene Wenger is able to call upon the
services of Jack Wilshere and Theo Walcott
– however I think the winger will start on
the bench and be introduced if needed.
Aaron Ramsey will also return to full
fitness as he missed Wales’ fixture last
week. Per Mertesacker has recovered
from the virus that struck him before the
Manchester United game but Tomas
Rosicky faces a late fitness test.
The regular absentees, Yaya Sanogo (back)
, Lukas Podolski (hamstring), Alex Oxlade-
Chamberlain and Abou Diaby (both knee)
all remain sidelined, while Mathieu
Flamini is suspended.
For the visitors, Jack Cork will miss
Southampton’s trip to the capital due to
an ankle injury. He twisted his ankle
badly, although it is unclear how much
longer he faces out. Guly do Prado is also
absent after undergoing a knee operation,
while Gaston Ramirez’s fitness will be
checked after arriving back from
international duty with Uruguay on Friday
lunchtime. Dani Osvaldo is expected to be
fit despite suffering an allergic reaction on
international duty.
The Team
Wojciech Szczesny would want to mark his
new deal with a clean sheet and he’ll also
be mindful of the game as it was his
howler against the Saints that ended the
Gunners’ impregnable clean sheet record
at the start of last season. Even if Laurent
Koscielny cocked up for France last
weekend, I’d expect him to play
alongside the Big F*cking German, Per
Mertesacker, relegating skipper, Thomas
Vermaelen, to the bench. Kieran Gibbs
had a cameo against Germany while
Bacary Sagna had a handful of minutes in
the match against Ukraine so they’ll be
fresh for the encounter.
In midfield, I’d expect a better
performance from that poor showing at
Old Trafford. Mathieu Flamini the
Flanimal will be suspended for this game
after picking up five bookings and he’s
odds on to be replaced in the middle by
the red-hot Aaron Ramsey, who has
netted 11 times in 18 competitive
appearances for Arsenal this season, this
after scoring 11 in his previous 150
competitive appearances for the club
before this campaign.
The Gunners will also line-up with Ozil,
Cazorla and Giroud in attack and they
have to step up the plate today as all
three put up lethargic performances at
Old Trafford.