How Arsenal Will Line Up Against Southampton

Arsenal faces another tough match against Southampton in what is proving to be a very demanding pre-Christmas fixture list. Arsene Wenger will be looking to get his team and players back on track after a run of games that have taken the wind out of their sails. Who will Le Prof send into battle against the highly rated Mauricio Pochettino and his high-flying Saints?

The Gunners won 10 games on the trot between August 21 and October 1, but have only won four of their last eight games, with the most recent defeat to Manchester United just before the international break.

Wenger would have been hoping that the international fixtures would have re-invigorated some of his players. He would have wanted some players to take a well-earned rest, some to get some much valued game time and some to receive a boost in confidence from good performances or much-needed wins.

What the legendary French manager would not have wanted is for some of his players to suffer embarrassing defeats or performances and to be ridiculed in the media. L’Equipe, as per the Daily Mail, absolutely slaughtered France after they were beaten 2-0 in the first leg of the World Cup playoff. 

The respected French publication even asked if this France side were the "worst in history" and reserved special condemnation for the seven Premier League players that featured in Didier Deschamps' ramshackled side. 

Laurent Koscielny was panned for his disastrous performance in which he gave away a penalty before being sent off. The Arsenal centre-back showed a complete lack of professional judgement in pushing Oleksandr Kucher in the face. He deservedly saw red and was awarded with a miserable three out of 10 score for his efforts. Olivier Giroud also suffered for his lacklustre performance against Ukraine and was bombed out of the starting team.

In the run-up to the game, Giroud did his level best to pander to Deschamps by telling the Guardian he was ready to "die" for the French cause to qualify for Brazil 2014.

Before the game Deschamps spoke of his need to be convinced by the French player's attitude. He told the Guardian:

"

Believe in it or not, it's not even a question to me. If I want the players to be convinced that we can do it, I have to be convinced first.

To achieve something extraordinary, we have to be in that state of mind, to think that it's possible. There's a possibility. No matter if it's small or great - it's real.

"

It's fair to say that Deschamps obviously thought Giroud was not the man to help France reach Brazil, and now Wenger has to pick up the pieces for a destructive and harmful week for two of his most important players.

On the plus side, Per Mertesacker played well and scored for Germany in their win over England at Wembley. After that, it was hard to see any performance-related positives for Arsenal players on international duty. The good news, overall, for Wenger and Arsenal on the international front is that they did not add to their injury woes.

Aaron Ramsey, almost a Messianic figure for the Gunners this season, is expected back for the upcoming clash with Southampton, as is Theo Walcott. Walcott is unlikely to start against his former team, but he could find a place on the bench, although Serge Gnabry will have something to say about that.

Goalkeeper picks itself with Wojciech Szczesny the undisputed No. 1 at Arsenal. 

At the back, Bacary Sagna has played well at right-back and well ahead of Carl Jenkinson in every department of the game. The English under-21 international has flattered to deceive this season but is still on the road to replace the Frenchman when his contract runs out at the end of the season.

Likewise, Kieran Gibbs is well ahead of Nacho Monreal at left-back and will, once again, be certain to start.

The first real decision that Wenger has to make is at centre-back. Mertesacker is guaranteed to start. He is the organizer in the back for Arsenal and they play poorly when he is not on the pitch. That leaves Wenger with a choice of Koscielny or club captain Thomas Vermaelen as the German's partner.

Koscielny has not reached the heights he is capable of this season. His decision making is rash and despite some sterling performances—Liverpool and Dortmund spring immediately to mind—he has been decidedly average. In his current form he is almost guaranteed to make one major mistake per game. He has given away three penalties in 20 games for club and country and should have been penalized for a fourth for an unrestrained charge into Shane Long's back against West Bromwich Albion.

To put Koscielny's poor decision making in the penalty box into context, all one has to realize is that only the entire Crystal Palace team have given away more penalties than him this season.

His form has opened the door for Vermaelen to return to Wenger's thoughts. While the Belgian was probably Arsenal's best player in the loss to Manchester United, it must be noted that in the nine Premier League matches he has started since January 2013, Arsenal have won only three. Wenger should stick with Koscielny, in an effort at boosting his confidence, but Vermaelen is getting closer to returning to the team.

Against Manchester United, Mikel Arteta and Mathieu Flamini's selection at midfield, in many ways, played into the defending champion's hands. Neither player is what you would consider highly mobile and as United turned midfield into a war zone, the game became all about getting the ball wide. Without natural width, Arsenal lacked any kind of penetration and Ramsey was reduced to a passenger, as were Mesut Ozil and Santi Cazorla.

Ramsey should return to his normal role in center midfield, although Wenger will have to factor in his overall fitness. The Welshman has missed just over 10 days of training due to a hamstring injury and the flu. Given the need to win and the need for a good performance, Wenger should start with Ramsey and look to replace his position with Jack Wilshere around the 60-70 minute mark.

Arteta has proven more than capable since he returned to the team, and his understated genius has proven ultra important in recent weeks. The same, however, could be said of Flamini, who was instrumental prior to his injury. 

The uncapped Spaniard is guaranteed to start as Flamini is suspended.

Ozil, having been wisely rested for Germany by Joachim Low, is certain to start in the No. 10 position. He will be under pressure to perform after a month of poor performances which starkly contrasted with his first month in the Premier League.

Cazorla, who only played for 45 minutes for Spain, will resume his role on the left, but he will have to be more than aware of the threat portrayed by Nathaniel Clyne in Southampton's right-back role.

Cazorla could be replaced by Wilshere, but given Arsenal's apparent fitness problems in center midfield, Wenger is unlikely to risk further potential problems.

That does leave the potential for a surprise return for Walcott on the right wing. Arsenal's No. 14 has not played since mid-September's win over Marseille, in which he scored. He has been nearing full fitness for the past couple of weeks, and the international break comes at an ideal time. However, physical fitness and match fitness are two different things, and Wenger is not one to gamble on players making early returns only to be ruled out further.

The best Arsenal fans should hope for is for Walcott to make some kind of appearance, but not to play 90 minutes.

Giroud is guaranteed to start up front. Despite his naysayers, he has been one of Arsenal's best players this term, and his link up play improves with each passing week. However, he is not the top-class forward Arsenal wants, deserves or needs and will continue to fulfill the role to the best of his ability until they take a real gamble and sign a player like Luis Suarez.

Giroud has no competition whatsoever at Arsenal, and Wenger really needs to work on the psychological side of his game given his latest international setback. The last thing Arsenal needs at this very moment in time is their first-choice centre-forward going through a crisis of confidence.

Southampton will provide a stern test. They are an honest and extremely hard working side and do not give up ground easily.

Arsenal will have to battle for every inch of ground available at the Emirates Stadium against the Saints and then add up all those inches in the hope they amount to a victory.

Predicted Starting XI:

(GK) Szczesny

(RB) Sagna (CB) Koscielny (CB) Mertesacker (LB) Gibbs

(CM) Arteta (CM) Ramsey

(ARM) Rosicky (ACM) Ozil (ALM) Cazorla

(CF) Giroud