Premier League Preview: Southampton vs Arsenal

LONDON, ENGLAND – NOVEMBER 23: Nathaniel Clyne of Southampton is pursued by Mesut Oezil of Arsenal during the Barclays Premier League match between Arsenal and Southampton at Emirates Stadium on November 23, 2013 in London, England.

Last Corresponding Fixture

Southampton 1 – 1 Arsenal
Goals: Gastón Ramírez (35), Guly (41 own goal)
Tuesday, 01 January 2013
St. Mary’s Stadium

Arsenal have drawn against Liverpool at home while Southampton travel to Stadium of Light in the fifth round of FA Cup. The Gunners need to pass the tough fixtures coming in February & March on all three fronts if they want to win silverware this season. After losing back to back games against Napoli in Champions League & Manchester City in the Premier League, Arsenal are yet to lose. In the league, they have drawn one and have won last five encounters. Saints have a mixed form as of late, with winning two, losing three and drawing one of the last 6 games in the Premier league.

Team Performance

	Played	Won	Drawn	Lost	GF	GA
Southampton at Home	11	5	3	3	17	12
Arsenal away from Home	11	8	1	2	23	13

Aaron Ramsey missed the last few games with injury but the Welshman’s absence has not been felt. Santi Cazorla has come back to his best since he returned to the squad. Serge Gnabry has been slotted in on the wings in absence of Theo Walcott & Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain. Southampton’s £15million record signing could be on his way out of the club after he clashed with teammate Jose Fonte on the training pitch few days ago. With consistent performance throughout the season, Arsenal are the team to beat and Mauricio Pochettino will be hoping to beat the Gunners tomorrow night to keep Saint’s European ambitions alive.

So far this season

SOUTHAMPTON		ARSENAL
58	Average Possession (%)	57
80.4	Passing Accuracy (%)	85.6
46.4	Shooting Accuracy (%)	52.7
8	Clean Sheets	10

Team News

Southampton: Gaston Ramirez and Dejan Lovren are both out with ankle ligament injuries, whilst striker Dani Osvaldo is unavailable. Victor Wanyama is back in the training while Guly do Prado & Artur Boruc are back in the matchday squad.

Arsenal: Midfielders Aaron Ramsey and Mikel Arteta are fit for the trip of St. Mary’s. There are doubts over unavailability of Jack Wilshere with ankle problem he suffered in the FA Cup’s fourth round against Coventry City. Club captain Thomas Vermaelen is also passed fit while Yaya Sanogo & Abou Diaby are the long term absentees.

OPTA Stats

• Southampton have four players to have played in every league game this season, more than any other team in the league (Lallana, Lambert, Rodriguez and Ward-Prowse).
• Arsenal have hit the target with 53% of their shots this season, the best accuracy rate in the Barclays Premier League.
• The Gunners have scored more headed goals (9) than any other team in the top division; these goals have come from seven different players.
• 68% of the goals Arsenal have conceded this season have been shipped in the second half of games; the highest proportion in the top flight.
• Arsenal have won five and lost none of their last eight Premier League games against Southampton, but have won just one of the last four trips to St Mary’s (W1 D2 L1). 
•  Jack Wilshere has scored (one) or assisted (three) four of Arsenal’s last five Premier League goals.
• Only one team has managed to score more than one goal against Arsenal in their last 21 Premier League matches (Man City 6-3 Arsenal).
• Southampton conceded just five goals in their opening 11 Premier League games, but have shipped 20 in the last 11 with that run starting with a 0-2 defeat against Arsenal in November.
• The last time Southampton beat Arsenal was in November 2002, with a James Beattie brace helping them to a 3-2 win at St Mary’s.

Match Officials

• Referee: Lee Mason.
• Assistants: J Collin, S Long.
• Fourth Official: I Williamson.