On paper, Arsenal should have a very easy outing at Southampton today if you look at the League table and our recent form, but the Gunners boss Mikel Arteta cannot forget the “painful” defeat on our last visit to St Marys. Arteta told the Echo: “Well, obviously there was an experience that was painful, especially with the way the game turned out and the consequences of it.
“We know where the danger is with their team.”
“We have experienced some really tough matches against them and I expect a difficult game again.”
In fact, with Arteta at the helm we have only won three of our six games against Southampton, and have lost two, so we could consider the South Coast side as a bit of a bogey team. It doesn’t help that we had a very tough game against PSV just this Thursday, and Arteta will surely need to rotate his starting XI to cope with extra tiredness and fatigue setting in.
We clearly saw how much our Thursday game affected our visit to Leeds last week, so Arteta has every right to be felling a little worried today. Arteta said: “Well, it’s difficult as we have a day to prepare for the game.
“We have watched certain games, but we haven’t finalised all of the preparation.
“Against us they have played in various ways. We know what we can expect from them, but we don’t have certainty over how they will start the game.”
So, as Arteta implies, we should not be getting complacent and think we just have to turn up to claim the points. Let us hope that whoever Arteta chooses will be ready to fight right to the end…
COYG!!!
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To be fair we played them last year with a depleted squad, dominated the game and their keeper played a blinder and made some outstanding saves. One of our more unlucky games year rather than poor performance. We shouldn’t be too worried going into this game with fewer injury concerns and momentum.
As Leeds showed however most teams in this league have the ability to cause anyone problems if they are on it and you are slightly off it. So can’t get complacent. Heart says 0-4 Arsenal, and head says 0-2 Arsenal!
I’d take any of your two results; thanks
Angus, my head agrees with your head. But my heart does not stop at 0-4, nor even at 0-40. I reckon your head is good but you heart is very unambitious!
Worried Nah, cautiously optimistic maybe.
The gaffer must now wet his bread and reinstall that needed breathing space.