Arsenal vs Southampton

Venue: The Emirates Stadium, North London

Time: September 15, 2012. 15:00 Hrs BST

Arsenal last 5 games: DWDDW

Southampton last 5 games: WLLWL

The Premier league resumes this Saturday after the International break last weekend and Arsenal face a tricky Southampton at home. The Gunners will be looking to continue their impressive defensive display this season and to build on the hard fought victory at Anfield. Arsenal are having a normal start to the campaign with a couple of draws before and a win but its their defense which has been impressive. Newly appointed first team coach Steve Bould is doing wonders with the Arsenal back line, which is normally a fragile one. With wingers tracking back to help their defensive colleagues, it really looks like Bould is drilling the every bit of sweat from the squad.

Southampton on the other hand, are at rock bottom. Having lost all the 3 league games they have played, Southampton will be hoping for better results in the coming weeks. But despite losing all the three games, the Saints can take some positives to the match against Arsenal as they almost pulled off a miracle against Manchester United, only to lose out at the end thanks to a brace from former Arsenal man Robin Van Persie.

The last time the two teams met at Arsenal was back in October 2004, over five years ago, where the two teams cancelled each other out in an entertaining 2-2 draw in a Premiership match.

Injury concerns:

Arsenal will welcome goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny back from his injured rib-cage and Szczesny is set to go straight back into the Arsenal side against the Saints

Winger Theo Walcott will be assessed tomorrow morning after missing England’s draw with Ukraine because of a virus, while midfielder Abou Diaby is face a late fitness test and has a 50/50 chance of making it into the team. Long term absenties Tomas Rosicky (hamstring), Jack Wilshere (ankle) and Emmanuel Frimpong (knee) all continue their rehabilitation along with defender Bacary Sagna (broken leg).

Southampton could see new signings Gaston Ramirez and Maya Yoshida to make their first full match appearances. Danny Fox is in contention after overcoming a groin injury that ruled him of international duty with Scotland, while Jack Cork is close to a return from an ankle problem picked up in pre-season.

Team News and Key Players:

The man of the moment for Arsenal is a rejuvenated Abou Diaby, who has a 50/50 chance of making it to the game and if he fails the fitness test tomorrow, Wenger would likely give the Welsh man Ramsey his first start of the season. It makes sense because of the history Diaby has when it comes to being injured after just one good game. The match will also see defender Koscileny available to start his first match of the season but its up to Wenger to decide.

Apart from that the key players to watch out for, are the two midfielders from Spain Mikel Arteta and Santi Cazorla. The Spaniards have combined together very well in a short period of time and it would prove to be a blessing for the Gunners. Cazorla, who opened his Arsenal account at Anfield after some excellent one touch passing with fellow new signing Podolski spoke about his new life at Arsenal and claimed that it is fun working with Arsenal and Arteta has helped him to settle down in London.

Probable Starting Lineup (4-2-3-1): Szczesny (GK); Jenkinson, Koscielny, Vermaelen, Gibbs; Ramsey, Arteta; Cazorla, Podolski, Gervinho, Giroud

Probable team to start against Southampton

Arsene Wenger Press Conference:

Wenger gave his usual pre-match press conference today morning and this is what he has to say:

On Saints manager Nigel Adkins:

“It is interesting, it shows you that there is no predetermined way to get to the manager’s job – it is just down to someone’s qualities,” Wenger told Arsenal Player. He had a very peculiar [route] to get the job but he has done well. I had the chance to see him when we played down at Southampton in pre-season. He is a very interesting man who wants to get information, and did that in a very convincing way. I am impressed with how well he has done and the way he has done it.”

On Goal Keeper Vito Mannone and hie performances:

“He has done really well,” said the Frenchman. Vito was allowed to move at the start of the season, to play somewhere. Now he has been No 1 for two games and has at least moved into being a serious candidate to be fighting for the place. At the moment, Wojciech is but there is a fight there and it is interesting. We have three goalkeepers who have the talent to play in the Premier League and to fight for the No 1 place. That’s Wojciech, Fabianski and Mannone. Usually we keep two and let one go away to play, because they need to play. Now Vito has taken advantage of the fact that Fabianski and Wojciech were injured.”

On his contract negotiations:

I have two years to go,” he said. “What is important for me is Southampton [on Saturday] and I think I’ve shown my commitment to this club in the past. I’m an Arsenal man and I think I’ve always shown that. I have to consider if I do well or not. If I don’t do well, I have to consider my future. I’ve been at the club long enough to have confidence in the people I work with. But I will assess my own performances and then make a decision. At the moment we are not there.

“Two years is a long time in my job. I just want to do well for the club as long as I can and accept all the rest. At the moment I am not in the mood to think about the long-term future. We want to do well this season, that’s all.”

Before closing the page, have a look at the recent encounters between the teams:

Season	Date	Team	Result	Team	Comp
2004/2005	Sat 26 Feb	Southampton	1 – 1	Arsenal	Premiership
2004/2005	Sat 30 Oct	Arsenal	2-2	Southampton	Premiership
2003/2004	Tue 10 Feb	Arsenal	2 – 0	Southampton	Premiership
2003/2004	Mon 29 Dec	Southampton	0 – 1	Arsenal	Premiership
2002/2003	Sat 17 May	Arsenal	1 – 0	Southampton	F.A. Cup
2002/2003	Wed 07 May	Arsenal	6 – 1	Southampton	Premiership
2002/2003	Sat 23 Nov	Southampton	3 – 2	Arsenal	Premiership