Southampton will be confident – Paul Merson predicts Saints vs Arsenal

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The League Cup finalists will be taking on the club currently second in the Premier League in the FA Cup fourth round tie at St Mary’s.

Southampton versus Arsenal is one of just two all Premier League ties in the FA Cup fourth round this weekend, and Sky Sports pundit and former Gunner Paul Merson has looked at how the game will unfold in his weekly predictions piece.

The St Mary’s match up is another meeting between two teams who have produced some intriguing games in recent seasons. The Saints famously secured a 2-0 win over the Londoners in the League Cup quarter final, a significant scalp considering the fixture was at the Emirates, and Claude Puel’s side pushed on from that result to dispatch with Liverpool in the semis and set up a Wembley final against Manchester United. In that game, Jordy Clasie and Ryan Bertrand netted for the visitors in what was an impressive performance.

Paul Merson

However, Merson feels it will be a closer encounter on Saturday. The ex-Arsenal favourite went with a 1-1 between the two sides, and he suggested that his old team will not relish the prospect of a replay if that was to be the result.

“Southampton will be confident after their phenomenal result in the EFL Cup semi-final,” he said on Sky Sports.

“They’re already at Wembley and I see them causing Arsenal problems. With that in mind, I see this one going to a replay, a replay Arsenal will not want.”

Arsenal have beaten Southampton earlier in the season, securing a 2-1 win at the Emirates thanks to a last minute Santi Cazorla penalty, but in general the Saints have become something of a testing team for Arsene Wenger and co in recent meetings. Of the last eight games between the two sides, the Gunners have won just twice versus three different managers, while Southampton have four victories – including two victories in the cups.

Arsenal’s Santi Cazorla

Whether Southampton’s difficult midweek League Cup match has tired the side or left them thirsty for more Wembley chances remains to be seen, while of course, the extent to which either side adjusts their starting eleven will also have a part to play, but this certainly looks like it will be one of the ties of the weekend.