Arsenal have a score to settle as they seek to get their Barclays Premier League title challenge back on track against Southampton at Emirates Stadium on Tuesday night.
Back-to-back draws against Liverpool and Stoke City, followed by a narrow 1-0 defeat by London rivals Chelsea, has dropped Arsene Wenger’s side three points behind leaders Leicester City while Manchester City sit second thanks to a superior goal difference over the Gunners.
Wenger’s men overcame Burnley 2-1 in the FA Cup fourth round on Saturday as Alexis Sanchez made a scoring return to the starting XI after a hamstring problem, and Arsenal will hope the Chilean can replicate that display against traditionally tricky opposition.
Arsenal have beaten Southampton just once in their last five attempts, losing 4-0 on the south coast in December, although Sanchez has scored in both of his home appearances against Ronald Koeman’s side. Midfielders Tomas Rosicky and Francis Coquelin returned from respective knee injuries at the weekend, while Wenger was suitably impressed by January signing Mohamed Elneny’s full debut after joining from Basel.
The Egyptian has yet to feature in BPL action but Wenger told Arsenal.com: “I think he has to adapt to the power side of the game. “But he has shown interesting ingredients like game intelligence, mobility and technical ability and had some good shots. He will be a very interesting player for us.” Southampton were comfortable victors at St Mary’s Stadium in the reverse fixture on Boxing Day but have won just one of their last 21 trips to Arsenal, which came under Koeman in the League Cup last season.
December’s triumph over Arsenal was the sole win in a run of 10 matches either side of the New Year but successive victories and clean sheets against Watford, West Bromwich Albion and Manchester United have the Saints looking up again. Matt Targett, who featured in the win over Arsenal at Emirates Stadium, told Saintsfc.com: “The form we’re in at the moment, I think we can beat anyone in the division. “So it’s important that we go there with confidence but we need to be wary as Arsenal are such a good team. It would be a massive result if we could go there and get a win or a draw. “I think it would give us confidence going forward and we can take it from there.”
Source: Vanguard
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