Arsenal v Southampton Preview – View From the Enemy!

As always, JustArsenal finds out what our opposing team thinks about the upcoming match, and this week the Southampton website provides us with some interesting facts ahead of this weekends game. The most interesting fact I like is that the Saints haven’t won away at Arsenal for 28 years!

Anyway here is what they said:

Ahead of Southampton’s clash with Arsenal at Emirates Stadium this weekend, we take a look at some of the key stats behind the fixture.

– The Gunners have won just one of their last six meetings with Southampton in all competitions (D2, L3), 1-0 back in December 2014.

– Southampton have scored just one goal in four Premier League visit to the Emirates, and have not netted in their previous three.

– Arsenal haven’t lost in 21 home league games against Southampton (W15 D6), last losing back in November 1987 when Danny Wallace scored the only goal for Saints in a 1-0 win.

– Southampton have kept three consecutive clean sheets against Arsenal, their best ever run against them in all competitions. It’s the same amount they had kept in 32 previous meetings with the Gunners.

– The Gunners haven’t lost back-to-back home fixtures in the Premier League since 2011.

– Shane Long scored twice in Southampton’s 4-0 win over Arsenal on Boxing Day 2015 – his most recent Premier League brace.

– Mesut Ozil scored in Arsenal’s 3-1 win at Watford, but hasn’t scored a league goal at Emirates Stadium since December.

– Claude Puel is the fourth French manager to face Arsene Wenger in the Premier League. Gerard Houllier is the only French manager to have beaten him.

– Southampton didn’t win any of their first three games last season – and still went on to record their best ever Premier League finish.

– In terms of possession, only Chelsea and Manchester City have recorded higher than Saints’ 57.8% in their opening three matches.

– Dušan Tadić has played the joint-most key passes in the Premier League so far this season (10).

Well it is not a match preview as such, but there are lots of conflicting facts and information in there. Just how can they have had so much possession over their first three games and only come away with one single point? Remind you of anyone lol!

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10 Comments

  1. Alexis came back late from Latin America so it may be wise to start Perez and put Alexis on the bench. Give him some rest for PSG
    But I think most of the players playing Southampton will play PSG
    I think we should make good use of our Central Midfielders for both matches because we have plenty of quality players: Ozil, Cazorla, Xhaka, Coquelin and Eleney
    We have only 3 CBs available at the moment Koscielny, Mustafi and Holding

    1. Thoughts on the PSG tie? I’m pretty optimistic of our chances. They have a very good team, but so do we. They aren’t a stand out super club like Bayern or Barca. I think it’s a 50/50 tie.

      1. 50-50 tie you said? PSG was ECL semifinalist in these last two years. We aren’t even reach the same “league” as they are yet. They can eliminate any of Barca, Muenchen, Madrid, Atletico, or Juve out from the tournament, that’s the indication.

        1. Not nearly as bad as you make it sound. For example.

          Arsenal have played Bayern nearly even up over the past 3 years. The 2 years Bayern “beat” Arsenal in the knockouts they only advanced on away goals – total goals was EXACTLY the same.

          Last year in the group Arsenal and Bayern split. They each won at home. ONE WIN EACH – they split the points.

          The point is……. Arsenal have been a bit short but these were actually razor close contests over the past 3 years vs. one of the best teams in Europe – NOT blowouts at all. So it is not accurate to imply otherwise.

          This suggests Arsenal can play with some of these better teams with just a little improvement. And I feel much more confident with Xhaka and Mustafi in defense. As for the offense……. we will find out soon.

        2. u forgot to mention the fact that PSG lost their key players in d summer. Ibrahamovic and David Luis without replacing them with d same quality. And remember dy also changed their coach who was winning games for dem. and it’s looking like d new coach hasn’t adjusted yet to life in his new club judging from their results of recent. Meanwhile Arsenal didn’t loose any key player but added more quality players to d squad instead. this is d problem with some fans, always thinking negative of our beloved club. it’s a shame. As for me,I know and believe Arsenal are far more prepared for dis season than PSG. it’s only fans like u that won’t notice that

  2. These historical facts are fun but……..

    This is a new Arsenal team in a new season. Arsenal are in their best shape in many years. Add Xhaka, Mustafi, a fit Sanchez, a fit Ozil, a fit Cazorla a new striker who can be used up top or on the wing. Monreal and Bellerin at the top of their Spanish game. Even Walcott has show glimpses of good form.

    AndI don’t know about Southampton – maybe they are better also – maybe not.

    What happens tomorrow will be totally dependent on tomorrow and any similarity with anything historical will be completely coincidental.

  3. Mate, they just drew their league game against St. Etienne. Their both full backs – aurier and kurzawa are injured. Thiago Silva hasn’t played a single minute so far and marquunhos has just returned from the Olympics but did play yesterday. Lastly, their attack looks similar to us with cavani painfully missing chances*cough giroud cough*. Lucas moura, their Brazilian Theo and Adm, their Sanchez. Ozil, santi and Xhaka should hold their own against pastore, verrati and matuidi. If we play well against saints and the new signings hit the ground running, we’re more than a match against this zlatan less PSG.
    Final point, PSG are visibly struggling to adapt to their coach Emery’s ideas and they were lucky yesterday to come out with a draw. PSG- difficult to beat? Yes. Impossible? Hell no

    1. Like Southampton, playing PSG in the first match in the Group may be our best chance of beating them before they get themselves back on track.

  4. I’m hopeful of a convincing win today so send out a message to our rivals, but don’t expect too much from Tuesday. We will defend in numbers.

  5. feeling confident of getting a win today, would be nice if Perez can get on the score sheet and everyone comes through unscaved for the PSG game. I reckon a 2-0 win today.

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