Arsenal may have looked dismal in the tame FA cup defeat at St Marys on Saturday, but tonight’s League clash will have a completely different look to it, as Mikel Arteta will be reinstating all his rested senior players to the squad after prioritising the League game ahead of the Cup.
Southampton, on the other hand, put out a very strong side to make sure they progressed in the Cup, so are expected to have to rest some of their tired top players.
Ralph Hasenhuttl has also admitted that the Saints will be missing both of his first-choice full-backs, Kyle Walker-Peters and Ryan Bertrand, for today’s return event. Walker-Peters sustained an injury in training and Hasenhuttl revealed on the Official Saints website: “It looks that he can definitely not make it tomorrow – this is another setback for us, to be honest.
“It’s the quad area, he’s got some problems. He only warmed up a little bit today and then felt some problems so had to stop.
“After Ryan Bertrand out with his fifth yellow card, we have to find the right solutions at full-back. It’s an important position for our game.”
Hasenhuttl also admitted that Oriol Romeu and Nathan Redmond are nearly recovered from long term problems, but will not be ready to be in the starting XI.
So, although the Gunners were knocked out of the Cup by the Saints, there is no reason to think that today’s game will be as dificult as that, and perhaps Arsenal should even be favourites?
I expect a win. Our players should have much more energy.
Yes hoping for a strong response from our top side. We should be too fit for them. But they won’t be easy to beat as Liverpool found out recently. Saints 1 Arsenal 3.
I fully expect a win tonight, though by a single goal. But IMO the damage was done in the first game when we foolishly put out a weakened side in the ONLY comp we had any real chance to win. The Europatrophy is way beyond this squad and so is Euro qual through Prem position, despite the many fantasists who self fool that we can can still make top four or six.
We WILL BE FORTUNATE TO GET EVEN 8TH, more likely 9th-11th and that is sober realism from this realist.
I agree, 8th would be a realistic target. If we can achieve a higher position with this squad, then I think the future under Arteta will be good.
Arsenal’s credibility is on the line tonight. The players better be up for it.
I believe Arsenal is going to win but by undermining the FA cup we have shown immaturity good luck
Pity it isn’t JWP and Ings 😄
I know right
Aubamayang and Tierney both out from our squad.