Southampton vs. Arsenal: Tactical Preview of Premier League Game
Southampton face their second exceptionally challenging game in a short space of time, taking on Arsenal in a New Year's Day fixture to die for. Let's take a tactical look at how this game could play out.
Southampton News
Nathaniel Clyne is not expected to recover from a strain and will likely miss out here. His full-back partner, Ryan Bertrand, only missed the game against Chelsea due to loan rules (they're his parent club) and will return in place of Matt Targett.
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Morgan Schneiderlin is suspended after "taking one for the team" against Chelsea with a professional foul, and with Jack Cork still out, manager Ronald Koeman must choose between Shane Long and James Ward-Prowse.
If JWP is selected, a 4-3-3 with Victor Wanyama and Steven Davis looks likely. If a 4-2-3-1 is retained, Dusan Tadic can play ahead of a Wanyama-Davis pivot, and Long can come in as a right-sided attacker.
There may be some logic in a third option of resting Graziano Pelle. That would entail JWP, Wanyama and Davis playing in midfield, Tadic and Sadio Mane on the flanks and Long as a central striker.
Arsenal News
The biggest concern for manager Arsene Wenger ahead of this fixture is the fitness of Danny Welbeck. Per Tom Sheen of The Independent, the England striker is a doubt ahead of the game, and Olivier Giroud is serving a suspension for headbutting Nedum Onuoha.
That could mean Alexis Sanchez up front in a 4-2-3-1—you know, unless Wenger fancies turning to Lukas Podolski or Yaya Sanogo—with possibly Theo Walcott starting against his former club on the wing opposite another former Southampton man, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.
With midfield options bare, Mathieu Flamini is certain to be in the holding role, with Francis Coquelin alongside him and the magnificent Santi Cazorla playing as a No. 10.
Laurent Koscielny provided some much-needed assurance against West Ham and will do so here, fitness pending.
Key Tactical Point 1: Maya Yoshida to be targeted
Koeman decided to play Yoshida at right-back against Chelsea, with Toby Alderweireld—who plays right-back for Belgium and previously for Atletico Madrid—at centre-back. It was a nod toward the need for physicality in the central areas against Diego Costa, and it was a ploy that worked perfectly.
Given its success, it would be a surprise to see Yoshida relocated to centre-back given Clyne likely won't make it. That puts a target on the Japanese international's back once again, and Arsenal should look to free runners over the top of him—just like the Blues did with Eden Hazard.
Cesc Fabregas lifted a beautiful ball into space for the Belgian to run onto, cut inside with and finish, and it's very possible for Arsenal to thrust runners into Yoshida's zone in a similar fashion. Sanchez thrives at drifting across into the left channel and occupying half-spaces, and if Walcott is fielded there, it'll be torture all day long.
There's a blueprint already set out to work this Southampton flank. Wenger would be ill-advised to ignore it.
Key Tactical Point 2: Sadio Mane's free role
Southampton have boasted various attacking trump cards throughout the season, with attention drifting across Pelle's strong goalscoring form, Tadic's creative instincts and Schneiderlin's surprising new penchant for a goal.
The latest X-factor Koeman has produced is Mane in a free role; giving the Senegalese forward the opportunity to roam around and pick his spots at will has been absolutely devastating to opposing defences.
The key here is not only releasing the speedster to drift, take players on and break between the lines, but also restoring Tadic to his preferred, more effective left side. The Serbian was a creative monster early on, but once Mane entered the side permanently, Tadic was moved and became less effective.
Mane is one of the quickest players in the league, and moving him into a free role essentially gives him license to do whatever he likes. Not to be harsh, but he was turning into a bit of a liability on the left flank due to poor decision-making and one-dimensional play. Here, he's thriving as the opponent have absolutely no idea what he's going to do next.
How Flamini and Coquelin marshal him—or try to!—could decide the Gunners' fate.
