A double dose today; our away stats from the ever accurate GN5 followed by a gentle pre-match from Raddy.
Our first game against The Saints was at home in the FA Cup on March 26, 1927 and ended in a 2-1 victory for Arsenal, incredibly we never played them again until we met in Division 1 game at home on December 26, 1966 (39 years later) and then played them again the very next day.
Premier League away record
Overall league away record
Football – 1991 / 1992 First Division – Southampton 0 Arsenal 4. David Rocastle of Arsenal celebrates with goalscorer Ian Wright, at The Dell. Wright scored a hat trick on what was his Arsenal league debut. 28/09/1991
The Saints have proven to be very difficult for Arsenal to beat at St. Mary’s, our record in the last 8 games being W2, D4, L2, GF8, GA11.
So far 2018/19 has been a tough campaign for The Saints they have won just one game, away to Crystal Palace, their home record is a miserable W0, D5, L2, GF6, GA10. Their last home game was on December 1st and Manchester U was fortunate to come away with a 2-2 draw.
I leave it up to the pundits to pick a winner but it could be a tricky game.
Historic Southampton Trivia
- God’s House Tower, on the corner of Town Quay, Lower Canal Walk and Platform Road, was the first dedicated artillery fortification built in England. It was constructed in 1417, as part of the drive to fortify Southampton following the French raids some 80 years earlier. The town gunner was paid sixpence a week.
- The Central Parks in Southampton were common land (Lammas lands) for residents of the medieval town, and used for cultivation up until August each year, when they were then used for grazing cattle. The bell on the top of the Bargate was used to alert those working in the fields when to return inside the town walls. The parks were made into the green leisure spaces enjoyed by many today, in the mid 1800s and the cricket pitches in Hoglands Park have been used almost continuously since 1867.
- Southampton played a major role in the success of fish fingers. Clarence Birdseye tested herring sticks and cod sticks on shoppers in Southampton and South Wales. The Southampton customers loved the cod sticks, which then became known as fish fingers and rolled out across the country.
Enjoy the game and let’s see if they can make it 23 games in a row unbeaten.
GunnerN5
St. Mary’s has been a mixed bag over the years, as you can see from GN5’s stats. I recall the days of Laurie McMenemy, Mick Channon, Le Tiss and a very curly Kevin Keegan. No such stars there any more. I wonder of Le Tiss, who was a footballing genius, would have stayed at STFC had he been playing today.
Southampton are struggling, having been Mark Hughes’ed over the recent past; how he gets work is incredible. Their new manager is another German import, David Wagner, and we must hope AFC do not suffer from S’ton’s efforts to impress their new chap.
BTW never liked Shane Long, he looks too much like a haddock in my opinion.
S’ton haven’t won a game in ages, we haven’t lost in ages. Worrying isn’t it?
It will be a makeshift defence but the reurn of Kos and Nacho is timely. Ramsey will surely start.
My Team:
Bent
Catwalk Kos Nacho Wardrobe
Ramsey Terrier Xhaka
Ozil
Laca PEA
There is little chance that I have predicted the team – Mr. Emery confounds us all. AMN could start, so could Wobbly or Mhiki or the Swiss fella.
Given the form of the teams above us it is imperative Arsenal maintain their unbeaten run.
Let it Be So
written by Big Raddy
Arsenal News 24/7
arsenalarsenal.net 
First
That really is a take no prisoners team up there BR, I hope the Shepard goes with it.
good post and cant wait for the match…
I would line up the following way vs a resilient Southampton side:
Leno – Bello, Lichten, Kos, Nacho, Kola – Xhaka, LT – Mihky, Laca, PEA
Laca, Xhaka and PEA to score. Mhiky and PEA with one assist each.
We will concede at least so I foresee a hard fought 3-2 win with a frantic finish that we see will out…
Come on Gunners
3-1 to the mighty Arse.
Thanks very much, GN5 and Mr Radford.
Let’s stuff ’em.
Pistachio again.
Strong bench for the last half hour!
Great work Raddy and GN5, thanks.
I hate playing a team with a new manager … but I’ve felt this way before most of the games this season and we’ve still found a way to win. It is all set up for a storming second half … no silly defensive mistakes in the first half please fellas!
Deffo need to combat the David Wagner effect. 🙂
I might be counting our chickens here but that bench will start in the week which will make for a very strong team to face spuds.
Is the formation set in stone? What about Ouzi as a creative wing back!
Good pre-match, from two wise Gooners, thank you.
Agreed, LB, the bench looks strong and that means we rest some top players for Wednesday — but if things go shabby today we can call on them.
I do not understand Mr Emery’s faith in Mhiki. Does anyone?
Given Ramsey is fit his non-selection is baffling.
As you say, a strong bench
The Wardrobe’s legs are massive!
Oh dear. Sky have a room full of onanists as pundits. Souness, Keane etc. Dreadful. Surprised they haven’t got Barton or Stewart Robson
Xhaka CB should be an exciting game
COYRRG
Shouldn’t we just play a 4 back formation
Need Lacazette and Özil on. Not enough creativity in this line up. Ref letting them foul us at every opportunity. Stinks of defeat this game at the moment.
…. typical first half so far 😦 😦
Here we go again, two bone crunching fouls and no foul or yellow given. Those leading up to a very good goal by hampton.
Passing looks disjointed with our mid’s not really taking hold of the game.
Terrible start.
The back 3 are not getting any protection.
We are clear second best. Iwobi and Mhiki anonymous
Smith as always no idea about defending or football at all. If there6 an error it’s Bellerin not close enough to cut out brilliant cross.
Turn the sound down again
Aaron. True. The after the ball tackles on Kos and Terrier were awful but this happens every game
Finally mkhitaryan
Then Iwobi and Mhiki combine!! Get in
My negativity seems to have sparked us into life!
https://twitter.com/wntbronze/status/1074303152592179207?s=09
If we can score next then they could crumble.
FGG it’s not your negativity it’s turning the sound down! Second goal!! It’s still the first half!!
FGG … in the nicest way … keep your mouth shut please 🙂
Such simple goals to concede. What will Emery do?
Very similar to last seasons Arsenal this first half. Poor for 40 minutes, good for 5 minutes in which we score, then some shite defending costing us goals.
Another biased, shit ref.
Shit referee ✔️
Rotational fouling ✔️
Dreadful defending ✔️
Second best in midfield ✔️
Frustrated lone striker ✔️
Need vast improvement in second half ✔️
Rustiness, probably from Kos and Nacho. But Kos has never been good at taking out that kind of cross, and another goal from Micki and/or Aubang and would have been different.
Some excellent last minute defending from Saints, but still think we’ll win.
Iwobi really needs to practice his finishing.
The officiating in this game has been an absolute joke
Like to see Ramsey and Özil
Hope he leaves on mkhitaryan for the hatrick
Lichtsteiner injured 😱
God bless female linesman
Time wasting at home sheeesh. Every goal kick, throw in, foul.
Come on Ozil get that assist!
Anyone notice the ref doesn’t even look at the challenges especially from behind?
Awful
Awful defending again.
Cech would have tipped the cross.
Well, let me think, rotating D because we can’t keep a defender healthy for more than 5 games straight, and the only way hampton can win is to get a header-they got 3…
Rarely been a bigger injustice, but apart from the ref, the difference was our missed chances.
Without doubt the worst defensive performance for a few seasons.
thank you GN5, thank you Raddy.
23 was not to be. cannot blame the team for giving a big effort, but not enough quality on the pitch.
My MOTM the lines(wo)man. says it all I guess. gutted!
What an appallingly dreadful way to lose an unbeaten run.
Apologies that they’ll be no match report from me.
I don’t want to think about that game for one second longer.
Positives mkhitaryan on score sheet
defending crosses has been our Achilles for years, but it is still galling to let in 3 of them today.
A poor performance which did not deserve more than we got.
I wonder whether playing 3 at the back from the start was really a good idea as our midfield was overrun the whole time.
Apart from Kozzer, how many fit defenders do we have. As far as defending crosses is concerned … it’s a good plan to have a couple of guys who are at least 6ft 3in … I wonder if we’d have lost today if Holding had been playing?
In fairness to Leno he did make a stunning save to keep it at 2-2, but that doesn’t excuse that terrible last goal.
Not a big fan of the Torreira/Geundouzi partnership and thought we got overrun in midfield at times. Also, if we are to really progress and move forward then I would suggest that Mkhi and Iwobi shouldn’t be getting in our first 11. They are useful players to have, but right now there is no way that they should be our starting AM players. I’d rather see Ramsey and Özil on the sides or a team with Lacazette and Auba in it.
Tough loss to take but hopefully we’ll come good again.
That result does bring up the issue of changing managers mid season. Personally, I don’t think it should be allowed. How is it fair for us to play a rejuvenated Southampton side when their previous opponents have all had it easy? I reckon you should have to play the whole season with the squad and manager you start with.
Seems we missed mustafi today
Mentioned a while ago cech should be given a chance not sure who disagreed with me I wonder if he feels the same after Leno display
I think it was more down to the keeper having a super game
Lol
I will take the poisoned chalice of the match report.
brave man Raddy
Fred, we didn’t miss Mustafi and Cech would have had more trouble with pressing and ball at his feet. We DID miss our chances, which were arguably easier than their goals, and additionally the man in black was totally biased, incompetent.
What happened?
I have seen very little of Arsenal this season and have depended on friends for reports, and the sports pages.
It must be a time glitch but that was like the worst of the late era Wenger games.
The main difference was our Wengerian mid-pitch, interminable cross field passing had moved 20 meters closer to our own goalkeeper, and then he or the defence passed the ball back to the opposition. Sheesh.
Losing occasionally is part of football, but 3 headers = 3 goals is a reflection of a makey-uppy defence because of injury/bans, but Leno was abysmal (in my opinion) and I think Martinez is a much better GK and should be given his chance.
Disappointed.
I think we missed mustafi, and believe he would have been more commanding for second goal I think
I think cech should be given a chance with the rubbish Leno playing
Yea Martinez hasn’t gotten a looking, but I wouldn’t mind seeing him either
Martinez had nothing to do on Thursday and still looked like bambi on ice.
Unai Emery admitted Arsenal have limited scope to address their defensive headaches in January after Hector Bellerin joined a long injury list during the loss to Southampton.
Right-back Bellerin could be unavailable until the new year after sustaining a suspected calf issue shortly before half-time in the 3-2 defeat at St Mary’s.
Emery described the problem as “small” but expects his Spanish compatriot to have “some weeks off” in another blow to a backline which lost Sead Kolasinac to thigh tightness before Sunday’s match.
Rob Holding is already out for the season and Konstantinos Mavropanos has not been sighted this term, while Laurent Koscielny appeared well off the pace in his first Premier League start since April.
Shkodran Mustafi and Sokratis Papastathopoulos have, however, served their one-game Premier League suspensions and Emery may have to make do without further reinforcements.
“I don’t know now because we don’t have a lot of possibilities in January, but maybe we can think of someone to sign to help us,” the Gunners boss told reporters.
“[But] only if we think they are the player that can give us good performance. It’s not easy. I don’t believe a lot in this transfer window because it’s not a big possibility with players.
“The club is working and only if some player can help us with a high level [will we make a signing].”
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It was hoped the experienced Koscielny, recently recovered from a long-term Achilles injury, would add strength to a makeshift three-man defence against Saints, but his marking was persistently poor as Danny Ings notched two first-half headers before Charlie Austin nodded in an 85th-minute winner.
Emery defended the former France international and insisted his unconvincing combination with Granit Xhaka and Stephan Lichtsteiner was not to blame for the end of Arsenal’s 22-game unbeaten run, which came despite Henrikh Mkhitaryan’s double.
“I think today is very good news for Koscielny, physically he can play this match 90 minutes. Xhaka played well and Lichtsteiner played well,” the Spaniard said.
“We conceded chances today but we also had more chances to score than the two goals. The difference is this. Our game today was similar to what we played before, but the result was different.”
MU getting completely overwhelmed in midfield. Merino keeps €100m Pogba on the bench!
Missed the first half due to hangover… some of my musician mates did a gig in the small French town where I live and I ended up in the post-gig lock-in jam session (guitarist, occasional singer btw) Can’t argue with charcuterie et fromage, red wine with lager chasers till the wee hours of morning, and and a few blows on the wacky backy for nostalgic purposes….
Managed to drag myself outta bed for the second half.
Even with the hazy brain, I could see that there’s something missing in our play, that I think has been missing in a lot of our games in the unbeaten run.
Ok, a makeshift defence, but we should be more fluid in attack.
I will console myself with a big F-off ribsteak and bottle of Cornas (local red wine) kindly donated by last night’s chef de cuisine for my efforts in the jam session.
Santé!
JMLeg end
Sounds like you will be the most cheerful AAer tonight. Cheers!
JM. A night like that would have levelled me for at least a week. Well played at managing the second half!
Cheers El Bee Gee!
BR, hair of le chien….only way to go…
It’s all very quiet this evening and unsurprisingly so, watched first half and visited Santa for second half.
Now what can we say about goals, well,first two terrible defending, on both occasions Ings found himself between two centre backs and neither was close enough. Think it showed that it was Kozzers first game back and Lichtsteiner has only had a handful of games and Nacho is also just returning.
The third goal not good from Leno but as I said in reality the first two are on defenders whether out of practice/understanding or ineptitude. I tend to think the former as in reality only Hector has been a regular. I’d still pick Leno over Cech because Cech cannot do what Emery wants with ball at feet, and that will be the deciding factor.
So Emery couldn’t do much about the back 3/4/5 it was literally who was fit, we have who we have, he could arguably do something about the rest of the XI picked. And that is a question I want to ask fellow AAers who have watched more games than me. At what point do we expect Emery to pick a team that works from kick off rather than needing to use subs to change it? At the start of the season I could give him grace seeing the team in training and pre season is no indication of match day performance, we are nearing Christmas and we still need half time subs and changes mid way through a game, whilst I understand why that has been applauded as a significant change I do have to ask why it is needed every game? Admittedly it is not always the same players being swapped out, but again for a man who plans so meticulously for each opposition (or do we are led to believe) why do we have to make these changes?
I ask because I think it brings a frailty, if you’ve made two subs at half time you only have one left, will you then ask players to continue through injuries that lead to more? Or when the squad gets stretched through injuries do we have the players available to make those impact subs?
Top comment, GiE. My views on the goals are similar.
Yesterday’s half time sub was forced because of Bellerin’s injury, though A.M-N would have been the logical replacement.
Indeed it was Chas, I guess I’m more worried about our abysmal first halves, often going in down or drawing. Eventually we had to come a cropper. It’s much more tiring to have to chase the game than lead it. We are either not taking chances or just not firing in the first half. As I say I haven’t watched enough live games to judge.
Morning All,
GIE. Fine comment. It is eerily quiet. Normally after a defeat the site is more emotional
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