Southampton vs. Arsenal: Issues and Decisions That Will Shape EPL Game
When Arsenal traveled to St. Mary's Stadium to play Southampton on Jan. 1, 2014, they were lucky to come away with a point after being completely dominated by the Saints. They'll need a better result this time around.
Both teams have momentum on their side. Arsenal have won four of their last five matches and have not lost since December 6, while Southampton have rediscovered their form and managed to get a point from Chelsea at the weekend.
This will be the third time the two teams have met in a few months. The Saints won in the Capital One Cup and the Gunners edged by in the Premier League less than a month ago.
For the first time this year, Arsenal will travel to St. Mary's. Here are four things that could determine the outcome of the game.
Rotation
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The festive period is the busiest for any English club. Both Arsenal and Southampton were forced to play two games in 48 hours due to Boxing Day's proximity to the weekend, and neither changed their teams very much.
Arsene Wenger does not seem to like rotating his starting XI very much, but he should, especially with Stoke looming in a few days. Alexis Sanchez has been winded at the end of Arsenal's recent games, and players like Santi Cazorla have worked extremely hard.
The same can be said of the Saints' Sadio Mane and Graziano Pelle, among others. Whichever team has more depth has a clear advantage.
How Will Southampton Replace Morgan Schneiderlin?
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Arsenal caught a huge break when Morgan Schneiderlin picked up a second yellow card against Chelsea and got suspended for this match.
The Frenchman is arguably Southampton's most important player. He dictates the flow of the game from deep in midfield, offers a strong physical threat on set pieces and adroitly shields the defense.
He is really everything Arsenal need in a defensive midfielder.
The Gunners would have had a much more difficult time retaining possession and playing through the middle if Schneiderlin could play.
Instead, the onus will be on Victor Wanyama, who is an even more physical player but lacks Schneiderlin's technical nous.
Laurent Koscielny's Fitness
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Arsene Wenger might have taken a gamble on Laurent Koscielny's fitness when he started him against West Ham, reasoning that Arsenal would not be able to deal with the aerial threat of Andy Carroll without him.
It initially appears that the gamble payed off, as Koscielny made it through the match without obviously suffering any injury. Wenger did not mention him in his pre-match press conference, either.
Arsenal's defense looks completely different with Koscielny in it. Per Mertesacker does not have to do most of the work (which he is incapable of doing anyway) and the back line is not so vulnerable to counterattacks.
Southampton are good enough to feast on a Koscielny-less Arsenal, so fans will hope that he stays fit.
Who Arsenal Will Play in Attack
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Arsenal have lost Olivier Giroud to suspension and are unsure of Danny Welbeck's health. Arsene Wenger said that he thinks the striker "will be a bit short" for the Southampton game.
That raises the question of who will start in the three forward positions.
Wenger has favored Alexis Sanchez at striker, so it is safe to assume that the Chilean will play there in Welbeck's stead.
Who to put on the wings?
Tomas Rosicky and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain are back, meaning that the former can play in midfield and the latter can either play on the wing or in midfield, allowing Santi Cazorla to move to the flank.
Alternatively, Wenger could leave one of those three out of the team and reinsert Theo Walcott, who has not played in months and was passed over in two consecutive games.
The manager's decision will dramatically alter the structure of the team, so it will be interesting to see who he chooses.
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