Thursday 1st January 2015 Kick Off: 3pm Referee: C Pawson. Assistants: S Long, S Burt. 4th Official: R East Location: St Mary's Stadium please log in to view this image Saints vs Arsenal please log in to view this image Standings --------------------P W D L GF GA GD Pts 4 Southampton 18 10 3 6 31 14 +17 33 5 Arsenal------- 18 9 6 4 34 23 +11 33 Recent Form Southampton: LLLWWD Arsenal: LWWDWW Recent Meetings PREMIER LEAGUE 03-12-2014 Arsenal 1 (Sanchez) Southampton 0 LEAGUE CUP 23-09-2014 Arsenal 1 (Sanchez) Southampton 2 (Tadic, Clyne) PREMIER LEAGUE 28-01-2014 Southampton 2 (Fonte, Lallana) Arsenal 2 (Giroud, Cazorla) PREMIER LEAGUE 23-11-2013 Arsenal 2 (Giroud 2) Southampton 0 PREMIER LEAGUE 01-01-2013 Southampton 1 (Ramirez) Arsenal 1 (Guly OG) Team News Southampton Out: Cork, Rodriguez, Clyne, Hesketh Suspended: Schneiderlin Line up: -------------------Forster------------------- ---Alderweireld---Fonte Gardos---Bertrand ---Ward-Prowse-Wanyama-Davis-Tadic ----------------------Mane------------------------- -----------------------Pelle--------- Arsenal Out: Ramsey, Ozil, Wilshere, Arteta, Bellerin, Diaby, Gnabry, Welbeck Suspended: Giroud Line up: -----------------Szczesny------------------- --Debuchy-Mertesacker-Koscielny--Gibbs-- -------------Chambers-Coquelin--------------------- -Chamberlain-Rosicky--Cazorla------ -------------------Sanchez------------------ Prediction - Saints beat Arsenal in the cup earlier in the season and are unbeaten in their 2 home meetings with Arsenal since returning to the Premier League. - The league game at the Emirates this season would most likely have ended 0-0 had Alderweireld no got injured with Saints out of changes. - Arsenal's side is weakened by injuries and Giroud's suspension. - Considering all of this, and Saints return to form, I am hoping for at least a draw, maybe a win. Prediction: 1-1 - No one made a match thread, so I thought I better make another. Sadly my 100% record came to an end against Chelsea, but I remain unbeaten! Hoping to stretch my unbeaten run to 4 games!
Hoping the unbeaten run continues. Really looking forward to this one as I am going to it before heading back to Uni on saturday. Last game i went to was the 2-1 win at the emirates so here's hoping for more of the same !
Hooray..! Another match. I thought I wouldn't like all these games coming like buses, but I'm quite enjoying it. Must be all that not losing. 3-1 to us, purely because I prefer 3-0 but Sanchez is almost bound to score. Anyway, it's Christmas, so it's good to give a bit of cheer out to teams inevitably lower in the table. But not too much..! please log in to view this image
The good news is, Giroud is suspended. The bad news is, so is Spiderman. A win would be a great start the year, I'd be delighted with a draw, but I'll settle for being entertained on what's likely to be a freezing cold day.
Any news about Clyne? Yoshida can deputize, he's solid defensively, but every attacking move with him involved comes to a dead end.
15:00 Southampton v Arsenal Refereee:- Craig Pawson : Assistants :- S Long & S Burt : 4th Official:- R East
Like last time I would play McCarthy in a 3-5-2, but off the bench is more likely for him. I'd play Long as well just for fresh legs reasons. Elia on the bench?
Including his goal (off his shoulder,admittedly) against Crystal Palace? Although I do agree that he would not be first choice if we needed an attack-minded defender
He doesn't officially sign until 3rd January so hope they don't sneak him on the bench. We don't want to beat Arsenal and then be docked 3 points
Yes, I will be going. Yes, I will have my thermos with me and will be wearing thermal everything. And no, the thermos will not contain coffee I think we stand a good chance with this one- really don't want to see Arsenal leapfrog us.
