What: English Premier League
Who: Southampton vs Arsenal
When: Monday 1st January, 2012, at 17:30 UK Time
Where: St Mary’s, Southampton, England
Southampton Continue Premier League Improvement
Following their difficult start, Southampton have improved significantly and are showing signs that they can battle their way to safety in what is their first season back in the Premier League. Nigel Adkins has steered the ship impressively through the first half of the campaign and his side are beginning to click into gear. In Rickie Lambert, they have an essential ingredient of a successful scrap against the drop – a prolific goalscorer.
Lambert was at the heart of all that was good about Southampton on Saturday as they did what no team has done for over a year – score three goals against Stoke City at the Britannia Stadium. But Adkins’ side still found themselves hauled back to 3-3 at the death, albeit by a brilliant late volley from Cameron Jerome, illustrating their soft centre at the back.
That defensive weakness threatens to be Southampton’s undoing, having conceded at an alarming rate earlier in the campaign. Part of that is down to getting used to Premier League defences, which Southampton have adapted to well, but some of the reason for the improvement is also because of an easier run of games. Another aspect is the emergence of Luke Shaw, who has come into the first team and performed hugely impressively. The 17-year-old is one of the best young talents in the country and he could have a big say in Southampton’s season yet. But the Saints have had a reasonably favourable run of fixtures of late, and youth team graduates Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Theo Walcott are back in town. They will give Shaw, and Southampton, one of their toughest tests of the season.
Momentum Gathering Pace for Arsenal
There are signs of consistency finally coming back for Arsenal after their 7-3 thrashing of Newcastle on Saturday. With four of those goals coming from Walcott and Oxlade-Chamberlain, there is much Arsenal have to thank Southampton for. Yet among the positives, the weaknesses are still there to see. During the first half against the Magpies, as in the second period against Wigan, Arsenal were second best. The defence still looks vulnerable, with full-backs Bacary Sagna and Kieran Gibbs the main culprits against Newcastle. But four wins in a row is hugely encouraging after a torrid winter up until recent weeks.
After hitting seven past Newcastle, a visit to Southampton should be one the Gunners will relish, having struck six against them at the Emirates Stadium earlier this season. Arsenal have an opportunity to put together a good run of form and another victory will add momentum as they look to chase down Tottenham Hotspur and Chelsea in the battle for Champions League spots.
There is always the feeling with Arsenal however that disaster is never far around the corner. Any day, any team, any place, Arsenal always seem vulnerable. They have scored 15 goals in their last four league games and finally goals seem to be flowing from all of their forwards. Yet this game calls for a solid, professional performance, and Arsene Wenger may be just as happy about finishing this game without conceding as he will about keeping up their current goal average.
Recent form
Southampton:
Southampton 0-1 Sunderland (22/12; Premier League)
Fulham 1-1 Southampton (26/12; Premier League)
Stoke 3-3 Southampton (29/12; Premier League)
Arsenal:
Reading 2-5 Arsenal (17/12; Premier League)
Wigan 0-1 Arsenal (22/12; Premier League)
Arsenal 7-3 Newcastle (29/12; Premier League)
Key absences
Southampton: Adam Lallana
Arsenal: Abou Diaby; Andre Santos; Lukasz Fabianski
Players to watch
Southampton – Jason Puncheon: Whilst Lambert grabs the plaudits for his goalscoring and Gaston Ramirez is the club’s creative South American indulgence, Puncheon stays under the radar, but his role in Southampton’s revival has been important. He has scored some crucial goals against Newcastle and Reading this season and is often involved in their best play going forward. A useful runner and adept technically, Southampton need him to continue his good form as part of the necessary ingredients in a successful fight against relegation. And he is just the kind of player who can frustrate Arsenal with constant running and composure on the ball.
Arsenal – Theo Walcott: The 23-year-old left St Mary’s seven years ago, at the time one of the most highly sought after youngsters in the English game. Finally, he is fulfilling his potential and it is fitting in some ways that he returns to the south coast after surely the best performance of his career against Newcastle. The signs of Thierry Henry’s influence were clear to see on Saturday. From the bent run to remain onside before cutting in from the left to open the scoring with a cool side foot finish, to the quick close control to confuse defenders and open up space in front of him, Walcott is learning quickly. He is also showing that he can be the central striker he wants to be. He has scored 36% of his shots so far in the Premier League this season, the highest of any player with more than five attempts on target. This is not just his first visit back to St Mary’s, but also the day he can technically open talks with other clubs with his contract coming to an end.
Match Prediction
Southampton could pose some real problems for Arsenal. They have the attacking flair and intent to find holes in the Gunners’ defence, although at the same time, it is true to say the same of Arsenal with Southampton’s backline. That means this game could well come down, rather than to which team is able to control the game better, to which is able to take their chances. This is likely to be an open game, particularly with both sides having endured a busy Christmas schedule. There will be weary legs and with two fundamentally attacking teams that should ensure this game has plenty of goalscoring opportunities.
That could give Arsenal an advantage, having played one game fewer over the festive period. They should therefore be that bit sharper than their opponents and with the superior quality of the visitors’ attack, which is in formidable form at present, that should give them enough of an edge to win this game comfortably in the end. But expect another good showing from a team more than capable of giving Arsenal another miserable evening. Southampton 1-3 Arsenal.
Betting on Southampton vs Arsenal? Visit Inside Bet before you bet.
