Match to be played on Saturday 23rd November 2013 at 15:00. Venue: Emirates Stadium, London.
Southampton travel to Arsenal knowing that it is a game between two of the leagues in form teams – and a meeting of first v third.
They will also want to avoid a repeat of the previous meeting between the two clubs at The Emirates – when The Gunners romped to a 6-1 victory.
However much has changed at St Marys since that day – including the manager.
Pochettino has been singing the praises of Arsenal in the build-up to the game – calling Mesut Ozil one of the top ten players in the world and tipping the Gunners for the title – but perhaps this is a bit of kidology from the clever Argentine.
But no matter what is said off the pitch, what matters is what occurs on it.
Southampton have only Jack Cork and Guly Do Prado out injured – so who starts the game against Arsenal?
Here is our predicted XI…
GK – Artur Boruc
It is a battle of the Polish goalkeepers at The Emirates as Boruc takes on Szczesny at the other end. His position is not under threat, and a performance like the one he produced at Anfield earlier in the season may be required here.
DC – Dejan Lovren
Fresh from international success with Croatia the in-form centre back will fancy his chances of stopping an out of sorts Olivier Giroud.
DC – Jose Fonte
There is a reason why Southampton have conceded so few goals this term – and it certainly is not because they chop and change the back-line.
Fonte is likely to start.
DR – Nathaniel Clyne
Linked with Arsenal in the summer and you can see why. The pacy full-back is having a great season, and the pressure being applied by Calum Chambers only seems to have made him up his game.
DL – Luke Shaw
May have to be slightly more disciplined than usual in order to sufficiently subdue the Arsenal attack – but his swashbuckling play may also force Arsenal in on themselves.
Balance is the key.
DMC – Morgan Schneiderlin
Possibly the key man in this game. He will be charged with picking up Santi Cazorla and Mesut Ozil throughout the match.
DMC – Victor Wanyama
The Kenyan, like Schneiderlin, is absolutely key to the game as his presence must dominate the tricky play of Arsenal’s technical maestros – just like he has in the past v Barcelona.
MC – Steven Davis
The only predicted change to the team that romped home against Hull City. The idea is he will bring more experience to the team, with James Ward-Prowse dropping to the bench.
AMR – Adam Lallana
Off the back of his rampant performance against Hull and an impressive time with the England team the midfielder will float and interchange with Davis and Rodriguez throughout the fixture.
AML – Jay Rodriguez
His time with England appears to have not gone exactly to plan but his pace and directness will be key in this game.
ST – Rickie Lambert
If he is fully fit, which we believe he is, he is likely to start – although Pochettino could go with the more mobile Dani Osvaldo.
That being said, with Koscielny’s hiccup of a week the presence of Lambert should be a no-brainer – as he enjoys picking up on weakness.
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