Width will earn Arsenal three points against the Saints

Match Preview: Arsenal vs Southampton – Premier League – 27.08.16

For Arsenal supporters especially international matches so early in the season seem pointless. Having struggled to get their season going it was a bit of a downer not to be able to get straight into the next match after comprehensively winning at Watford to build some momentum. Never ones to keep us bored Arsenal filled the international break with excitement and debate as Jack Wilshere was loaned to Bournemouth and Wenger finally completed his squad with the signing of centre-back Shkodran Mustafi and striker-cum-winger Lucas Pérez.

German international defender Mustafi is likely to partner a rejuvenated Laurent Koscielny but with Olivier Giroud fit again and the Alexis-as-a-false-nine experiment returning a mixed bag of performances whether fellow new boy Lucas Pérez starts or not depends on which way the wind blows.
Pérez seems to have been signed for his Vardy-like qualities; directness, speed, willingness to run onto balls and behind defenders. Southampton have been shorn of their best players once again and with a new manager bringing a different style of play gifting them a patchy start to the season it could be the perfect game to introduce our new Spanish attacker.

Width will be the crucial deciding factor in this game. The Saints’ fullbacks – the inexperienced Matt Targett and unconvincing Cedric Soares – can be exposed with overlapping runs and holding the flank. Theo Walcott looks like a man who realises he is in last chance saloon and his defensive performance has been much improved. If he can start to recapture some of his pre-2014 injury form he will be extremely dangerous this season.
Cut-throat, fast football worked well for Arsenal at Vicarage Road after a sluggish start and I fully expect them to stick with it. PSG await in the Champions League next week and surely there will be one eye on that so I anticipate the Gunners will try to wrap this match up early and avenge the 4-0 drubbing from last Christmas.

Predicted Line-up

Cech; Bellerin, Mustafi, Koscielny, Monreal; Xhaka, Cazorla; Özil; Walcott, Alexis, Giroud

I expect to see substitute appearances from Iwobi, Pérez and Oxlade-Chamberlain.

Match Quote

“Lucas is an interesting striker who is versatile, can play on the flank and especially though the middle. He can score goals and can also provide a good number of assists. With the way I like to play, that’s an interesting quality.”  – Arsène Wenger

Last 3 Meetings

• Southampton 2-0 Arsenal (01.01.2015)
• Southampton 4-0 Arsenal (26.12.2015)
• Arsenal 0-0 Southampton (02.02.2016)

Form Guide

Arsenal
WDL

Southampton
DLD

Opposition watch

The Saints have made a poor start but write them off at your peril, Nathan Redmond’s pace could cause problems, Shane Long’s direct, aggressive style will need policing and the creativity of Pierre-Emile Højbjerg will require Arsenal to be alert in the deep midfield area.

via Goonersphere/Kris Carpenter

Factfile

• Arsenal are unbeaten in 21 league matches at home to Southampton since a 1-0 defeat in November 1987 (W15, D6) but have won just one of their last six meetings with Southampton in all competitions (D2, L3)
• Southampton have kept three consecutive clean sheets against Arsenal in all competitions – as many as in their previous 32 meetings
• If Arsenal lose they will equal their lowest points tally after four matches of a Premier League season: four in 1994-95 and 2011-12
• Southampton also failed to win any of their opening three Premier League games last season but they went on to finish sixth
• The Gunners haven’t lost back-to-back Premier League home games since 2011 (against Aston Villa in May and Liverpool in August)
• Saints have not keep a clean sheet in their last 15 games, all of which were in the top flight
• Mesut Ozil has not scored a league goal at the Emirates since in a 2-0 win against Bournemouth on 28 December
• Southampton scored a joint league-high 15 headed goals in the 2015-16 season, level with West Ham
• Shkodran Mustafi made more clearances (160) and interceptions (133) than any other Valencia player in La Liga last season

Stats courtesy of Opta

Prediction

2-0 to Arsenal. Alexis and Walcott to score.

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