Sky Sports pundit Charlie Nicholas has tipped Arsenal to get a much-needed win over Southampton tonight, claiming the team will enjoy playing with the pressure off.
The Gunners travel to St Mary’s tonight to take on the Saints, with the match having been rescheduled thanks to an extended run in the FA Cup.
Arsenal have four league matches left to try and claw their way back inside the Champions League places, and are reliant on one or both of Liverpool and Man City to drop points, otherwise we will have failed.
Charlie Nicholas has now claimed that the pressure will be off Arsenal tonight, with their top-four spot unlikely at present, and expects our side to thrive.
He said: “It’s another side who like goalless draws for Arsenal and it’s another must-win game with the slender chance of a top-four finish still just about there.
“Southampton have caused them problems over the last few seasons, but I think Claude Puel is asking a lot of his team to go out and produce another dogged performance.
“I think the pressure is off in terms of the top four and we know that suits this Arsenal team.
“So I’m expecting them to win this, but even if they do I still won’t be expecting them to qualify for the Champions League.”
I’m not sure I wholly agree that our players or staff will adopt a ‘pressure is off’ attitude, but I do believe that our team has turned a corner with the formation change, and we are destined to win comfortably tonight.
I can understand how some other fans are skeptical given our tumultuous campaign, but I’m feeling good about our chances of a strong finish, and am more than optimistic that we can put the pressure on Liverpool.
Can our players play without pressure tonight? Have we finally turned the corner?
Pat J