Southampton vs Arsenal: Match preview, team news, confirmed teams, plus more

Southampton vs Arsenal: Match preview, team news, confirmed teams, plus more
Southampton welcome Arsenal to St Mary’s on Sunday for Ralph Hasenhuttl’s home debut as Saints boss.The Austrian succeeded Mark Hughes as the club’s boss earlier in December, but has had to wait until this weekend to lead his new side out at home.Hasenhuttl’s first game in charge was not an ideal start3
Hasenhuttl’s first game in charge was not an ideal start
His Southampton managerial debut ended in defeat last weekend, with Cardiff triumphing at home on Saints’ trip to Wales, and Hasenhuttl will want to start picking up points quickly.However, a defeat of Arsenal may still not be enough to guide Southampton out of the bottom three on Sunday, dependent on results elsewhere.The Gunners, on the other hand, have their own ambitions – to move up the table.Arsenal could also increase the gap between themselves in fifth and Manchester United in sixth to a massive 11 points, further increasing the pressure on Jose Mourinho.

What the managers are saying

Ralph Hasenhuttl (Southampton): “The guys have invested a lot this week; we are talking about a style that has many new things for some of them and it is a process that doesnt change just from one day to another.”Unai Emery (Arsenal):“We are fifth and our mind is focused on being in the first four positions. I think we are doing our way and in one process improving, but the reality is that we need more.

Match facts

  • Southampton are winless in their last four games against Arsenal in all competitions (D1 L3), since a 2-0 victory in the League Cup quarter-final in November 2016.
  • Arsenal have lost just two of their last 17 games against Southampton in the Premier League (W9 D6), with both of those defeats coming in 2015 with Ronald Koeman in charge of the Saints.
  • Among teams they have faced at least five times in the Premier League, Southamptons win percentage against Arsenal is their lowest against any opponent in competition history (15.8% – 38 games, six wins).
  • Arsenal have won only one of their last seven away games against Southampton in the Premier League (D4 L2), with that lone victory coming in May 2017 (2-0).
  • Southampton are winless in their last 14 matches in all competitions only once have they ever had a longer run (20 games in March 1989).
  • Arsenal have lost just one of their last 37 Premier League games against sides starting the day in the relegation zone (W30 D6 L1), losing 1-3 at Swansea in January.
  • Southampton manager Ralph Hasenhttl lost his first Premier League game in charge. The last time a managers first ever Premier League win came against Arsenal was in August 2015 (Slaven Bilic).
  • Southamptons Charlie Austin has scored in all four of his Premier League games against Arsenal. Only Raheem Sterling versus Bournemouth (6 games) has a better 100% record of scoring against a specific opponent in Premier League history.
Austin will hope to continue his excellent scoring record against Arsenal3
Austin will hope to continue his excellent scoring record against Arsenal

Team news

The hosts are definitely without the injured Ryan Bertrand, but Shane Long, Danny Ings and Cedric Soares all trained this week and are in contention to start.Shkodran Mustafi and Sokratis, the defenders, will miss out for Arsenal through suspension, while fellow centre-backs Rob Holding and Konstantinos Mavropanos are injured. They are joined on the treatment table by long-term absentee Danny Welbeck.Laurent Koscielny is set to return, however, after making his first start since May in Thursday’s Europa League defeat of Qarabag, while Aaron Ramsey is fit again.Koscielny’s return could not have been timed better with Arsenal in the midst of a defensive crisis3
Koscielny’s return could not have been timed better with Arsenal in the midst of a defensive crisis

Confirmed line-ups

Southampton:McCarthy; Valery; Bednarek, Vestergaard, Yoshida, Targett, Hojbjerg, Romeu, Armstrong, Redmond, IngsArsenal:Leno; Bellerin, Koscielny, Lichsteiner, Monreal; Torreira, Xhaka; Guendouzi, Mkhitaryan, Iwobi; Aubameyang

Will Manchester United return to a classic colour combination?

Maurizio Sarri and his staff remain in limbo while they wait for his Chelsea exit to be rubber-stamped. He went back to Italy last week ahead of his expected appointment as Juventus boss.
Chelsea news: Maurizio Sarri expects Stamford Bridge stay and

Chelsea and Arsenal have returned thousands of tickets ahead of the final in Baku

Tottenham forward Harry Kane has been told he faces lengthy spells out injured every season unless he alters the way he challenges opposition players. Kane, the England captain, could be out for the remainder of the season having picked up another injury during Tottenham's Champions League defeat of Manchester City.
Harry Kane injury: Tottenham forward risks multiple long-term

The return of Zidane could spark a huge spending spree at Real Madrid

Claudio Ranieri refuses to rule out Fulham reunion with Chelsea misfit Danny Drinkwater. The England international was a key part of the Italian's fairytale Premier League success at Leicester City

Sala was on board a plane which crashed over the English Channel last month

Cardiff City 1-5 Watford: Gerard Deulofeu and Troy Deeney star as Hornets thrash Bluebirds in Premier Leauge Deulofeu scored a hat-trick while Deeney hit two to seal impressive win in Wales and
Cardiff City 1-5 Watford: Gerard Deulofeu and Troy Deeney



Arsenal legend says Gunners should sell Ozil and keep Ramsey Harry Diamond 04/12/2018 Premier League 0 Arsenal legend Ray Parlour believes his former side are making a mistake in allowing Aaron Ramsey to leave the club, and believes Mesut Ozil should be sold instead.
Emery told to sell Ozil and keep Ramsey at Arsenal

Diogo Dalot started in Manchester United’s Champions League win over Young Boys in September

Liverpool's total trust in Jurgen Klopp is something special, says John Barnes. The Reds legend and former skipper says Jurgen Klopp's master of his midfield could prove key in Madrid
Klopp: Liverpool need to win all their games because City won

24 goals, 12 assists = 36 involvements

Neil Warnock issues one final rallying cry ahead of Cardiff City's bid to secure what would be manager's 'miracle' eighth promotion. The time for talking is done, and Warnock is daring the Cardiff
Cardiff 2-3 Crystal Palace - Premier League, Result: Warnock

Jodie Taylor will be one of England’s stars at the World Cup
Bournemouth defender Adam Smith out for up to three months

Unai Emery has guided Arsenal into the top four

Chelsea striker Olivier Giroud admitted he found Maurizio Sarri's decision while hinting that changes are afoot at Stamford Bridge, where Sarri's future is the not give up, despite my
Olivier Giroud: Chelsea star receives huge praise after West

Fulham’s 19-year-old star Ryan Sessegnon is wanted by Champions League finalists Tottenham. The player, relegated with the club this season, is valued at 40m

Tottenham finally hit with ultimatum over new stadium as Premier League 'order them to play NEXT game there - or be forced to stay at Wembley for the rest of the season'
Premier League gives Spurs ultimatum over new stadium move
anthonyscasey.com/premier-league-gives-spurs-ultimatum-over-new-stadium-move-sport-the-times-anthony-s-casey-singapore/
The Premier League has told Tottenham Hotspur that it will not permit them to move into their new stadium this season unless it is ready for their next home game. It is understood that the Premier League is insisting that Tottenham play all five of their remaining home games at their new ground or stay at Wembley for the rest of the season.
Premier League gives Spurs ultimatum over new stadium move

Manchester United completed the Treble by defeating Bayern Munich 2-1 in the 1999 Champions League final

When Man City and Liverpool FC play in Premier League title home straight. Manchester City and Liverpool will battle for the Premier League title over the next ten games, but is there an advantage
EPL 2018-19: Golden Boot Winner, Stat Leaders After

No comments:

Post a Comment