Arsenal Victory over Southampton Would Be Significant Step for Title Hopes

When the fixtures for the Premier League season were announced back in June, a home tie against Southampton would not have been one of the standout fixtures in the minds of Gunners fans.

Fast forward five months, and the first game for the Premier League leaders following the international break is arguably one of their most important of the season so far. Despite defeat to Manchester United in their last domestic outing, a victory over the Saints would set the tone for the run up to Christmas superbly, and stand Arsenal in excellent stead in their quest for silverware.

It Would Quickly Banish the Old Trafford Defeat

These two weeks have been a long time for Arsenal fans, players and staff alike. Nobody likes losing going into an international break, but especially to one of your biggest rivals. The defeat was painful enough—it sucked Manchester United back into the title race after all—but the manner of it wasn't particularly inspiring.

The performance was below par to say the least. Overturning a team who sit third in the table would eliminate the sour memories of that defeat in the swiftest possible manner, and get Arsenal's title bid back on track in double-quick time.

It would also set up a touch of momentum ahead of a massive Champions League clash with Marseille next week, before potentially winnable league games against Cardiff and Hull. Reasserting the lead at the top of the table is massive before the busy festive period.

Southampton are Arsenal's Mirror Image

For years, people have suggested no team in England plays football the way Arsenal do. Over the previous two seasons though, that opinion has started to erode for a number of reasons.

Chief amongst those is the cultured philosophy adopted at other Premier League clubs. Swansea are one of those clubs, but Mauricio Pochettino has instilled the creative philosophy at Southampton, too. Often your toughest challenges are against teams as similar as yourselves—which is way Saturday's game is absolutely colossal for Arsenal.

The likes of Adam Lallana will pose a huge threat for Arsenal's solid and resolute defence—another stern testing of their credentials so early on in the season. He impressed for England over the past week, and returns to a squad flowing with confidence.

Southampton's results this season have been mightily impressive—they earned a fully deserved draw at Old Trafford, as well as victory at Anfield earlier in the season, beating Liverpool 1-0. It would send a huge message should Arsenal send the Saints packing without any points.

It Could Burst Southampton's Bubble

As mentioned, Southampton's start to the season has been remarkable. They play excellent football, and are a credit to the Premier League with their large bulk of English, homegrown players. Victory for the Saints would see them go top of the league on goal difference, and that would be fully deserved.

No matter what people believe, Southampton—at this moment in time at least—are title contenders. If Arsenal can get the three points on Saturday afternoon, it could well send them into a downward spiral, considering their next clash is against Chelsea.

With Manchester City and Tottenham locking horns this weekend, and Liverpool contesting the Merseyside derby, it provides the Gunners to put more daylight between themselves and their rivals. If they get the job done against Southampton, they will have done so against one of their biggest rivals at this moment in time.