Arsenal travel to the south coast on Tuesday night to take on Southampton at the St Mary´s Stadium, for what promises to be a tough challenge for the Gunners. While the Saints have struggled to maintain their blistering early season form, Mauricio Pochettino has a well organized team that plays attractive football, so Arsenal could have a test on their hands.
However, there are plenty of omens playing into Arsene Wenger´s hands when he sends his team out to the field. Firstly, Arsenal are playing 24 hours before their main title rivals, giving the team a chance to extend its advantage at the top of the Premier League. There is also the small fact that the Gunners are unbeaten in their last nine against Southampton (a run that stretches back to 2002).
It has been a difficult week for the south coast club as chief executive Nicola Cortese was dismissed and then Dani Osvaldo clashed with Jose Fonte on the training ground. Arsenal will look to take advantage of the tension and unease surrounding the Saints at the moment, while if any team can make the most of Southampton´s open style it is the North London club.
Pochettino will call back the often dangerous Ricky Lambert and goalkeeper Artur Boric, but will be without Gaston Ramirez and Dejan Lovren who suffer from ankle injuries. Things are looking better for Wenger as aside from the long term absence of Theo Walcott, the Frenchman seems to be getting his key players back just in time for the run in to the end of the season.
Aaron Ramsey, Mikel Arteta and Thomas Vermaelen will hopefully be back to the squad, but are not expected to start, while Wojciech Szczesny and Olivier Giroud should come back into the starting 11 after sitting on the bench against Coventry in the cup. Jack Wilshere though will not make the trip as he struggles to recover from a knock to his ankle.