Article: Arsenal v Southampton match thread | Southampton FC, Football

Emirates Stadium
Saturday 23rd November
3pm kick off

Match officials

Referee: Mark Clattenburg
Assistants: S Beck and A Holmes
4th official: Andy D'Urso

Form guide

Arsenal:

Manchester United 1-0 Arsenal
Arsenal 2-0 Liverpool
Crystal Palace 0-2 Arsenal
Arsenal 4-1 Norwich
West Brom 1-1 Arsenal
Swansea 1-2 Arsenal

Southampton:

Southampton 4-1 Hull
Stoke 1-1 Southampton
Southampton 2-0 Fulham
Manchester United 1-1 Southampton
Southampton 2-0 Swansea
Southampton 2-0 Crystal Palace


Saints come into this match with an 8 game unbeaten run in the league and with only one loss in the league, have become the most difficult team to beat along with Everton. Arsenal have lost twice, against Villa on the opening day and last time out against Manchester United.

Team news

Flamini is suspended for Arsenal, Chamberlain still out, Walcott is apparently nearing a return.

No concerns for Saints, Lambert has recovered from his injury picked up on international duty and I'm assuming Osvaldo's allergy has cleared up! Only Guly is out.

Prediction

Really tough game to call, a lot depends on how Saints deal with Ozil and Cazorla. But we have the best defensive midfield partnership in the league so I'm going for a 1-1 draw.

 

Bugger. Without my hero Guly we won't stand a chance.

 

Should be a great game. Think Victor and Morgan are key. If they can keep Arsenals midfield quiet then we have a real chance of getting the points.

 

I think a tight game with us acquitting ourselves well but losing 2-1. They are the toughest test we have faced so far, Ozil and Cazorla scare me.

I'm hoping that it's the same Arsenal team that turned up at United (AKA Ozil being useless, Ramsey being out on the wing and Giroud being anonymous) but I wouldn't count on it. They will be bang up for this one, as the loss at Old Trafford will have hurt them. I'm really excited about it though! The Liverpool game being on just before means I will be getting an early train up, and getting absolutely sozzled. Never been to the Emirates before!

 

I would be very happy with a point.

 

I don't think it'll be 6-1 this time!

For a start, Jos Hooiveld won't be on the pitch to score an own goal.

 

Or Danny Fox to score our goal.

 

I'd get sozzled after the game if I were you, it gives you a chance of actually remembering the game itself and being able to see it. Mind you, if it's another 6-1, then your method might be the preferred one.......

 

From Arsenal's point of view I think it's vital we don't let you score first or we could be in for a frustrating game. I can see it being 0-0 into the second half, until hopefully your pressing starts to drop off a bit...

 

Wouldn't bank on it. Both out goals at Anfield and Old Trafford came in the 2nd half. Our players are incredibly fit.

 

Our pressing game doesn't drop off though. Players are all on double training sessions.

 

The players on England duty will have to work hard to recover from the rest though.

 

We never drop off...fit as butchers' dogs.

 

battenburg and d'urso? we will never win with them two in charge.

 

I wouldn't expect Arsenal to play as bad as at OT. I've even read a rumour they had their annual flu jabs leading up to that game which if anything like when I last had one years ago, left me feeling like I had the actual flu for a day and groggy for a couple afterward.

If we can keep their midfield quiet we will do well.

My (grounded as usual )prediction is - to Saints Lallana and JWP goals

 

Biggest test of the season so far. I'd definitely take a point.

 

So who plays

I'll go with

Boruc

Clyne Fonte Lovren Shaw

Victor Morgan

Jrod JWP Lalllana

Rickie


Subs KD Chambers Maya Cork Davis Gaston Dani

 

i'd be tempted to play davis instead of rodriguez

 

We've let in 5 this season, we won't double it +1 in one game!

Judging on both teams' records after international breaks, I think we'll lose 2-1. My heart says 1-1.

 

Lamby
Like the team but would start with Corky instead of JRod to sure up the midfield from the start but look to bring JRod on later in the second half when we look to win the game