The fourth round of the FA Cup will saw Southampton FC
entertain Arsenal at St Mary’s Stadium on Saturday Night. Arsenal needed a last
minute goal from Olivier Giroud and overcame a very poor first half to defeat
Preston North End in the third round where as Southampton needed a third round
replay to defeat Norwich City.
In last few years , Arsenal have struggled against Southampton at St Mary’s Stadium. They
suffered a 4-0 thrashing last season at the hands of Southampton and also were
defeated 2-0 against them season before that. So Arsene Wenger will have his
work cut out against them this time around. This season Southampton has faced Arsenal
twice once in Premier League and then in EFL Cup Quarter Finals at Emirates and
Arsenal needed a last minute penalty from Santi Cazorla in Premier League and
were humiliated at EFL Cup where they were defeated 2-0 and got knocked out. Having
been knocked out already once by Southampton once , Arsene Wenger will look to
reverse the result this time around. So that why I feel Wenger should Arsene Wenger Should Play a
strong Squad against Southampton.
In the League Cup Quarter Final , Wenger fielded a weak squad which struggled
against Southampton defence and also could not cope up with the Southampton
counter attacks in the game and ultimately lost the game .So I feel Wenger
should start a strong side against Southampton in the FA Cup. Wenger will put
David Ospina on goal as he started against Preston North End in the third
round. Hector Bellerin should start as right back as his pace might trouble Southampton
midfield. Major change will come in Centre back where I think Wenger could rest
both Mustafi and Laurent Koscielny and may give Rob Holding a chance but I
think Wenger should play either one of the main centre backs along side Gabriel
as Holding might struggle against
forward line of Southampton. I personally feel Wenger should play Alex
Oxlade Chamberlain in right wings and Lucas Perez who has done quite well so
far the chances that he got. Mesut Ozil should play in the number 10 role with
Alexis Sanchez as a striker. Wenger might consider resting Alexis and Ozil before the crucial clash against Chelsea next week at Stamford Bridge but Giroud might have trouble against the Southampton
and he normally slows the game. So I feel Wenger should start Sanchez as striker
as he has shown great determination and is hungry to play more. So why not play
him and if things goes a bit tricky Wenger may substitute him
for Giroud in the second half.
Southampton has recently defeated Liverpool in the League
Cup Semifinal and reached the final to play Manchester United at Wembley. Southampton
will miss the services of Virgil Van Dijk who has been the standout performer
for Southampton so far in the season and will also miss the Charlie Austin due
to shoulder surgery. But Claude Puel will be upbeat as they have the team who
are upbeat and full of confidence at defeating Liverpool earlier this week.
I expect a very tough game where
Arsenal should use the pace of Bellerin and Oxlade Chamberlain and the form of Alexis Sanchez to break Southampton down. I think Arsenal will
break St.Mary’s jinx and win 2-1
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