Southampton will host Arsenal on the new year day of 2015 after drawing 1-1 with Chelsea.Arsenal beat West Ham 2-1.Thanks to goals from Santi Carzola and Danny Welbeck...

Arsène Wenger has revealed the following team news ahead of the Southampton game:
on the latest...
The team news is that the squad will basically be the same that played at West Ham. We have an uncertainty about Welbeck, who came off with a thigh problem. I think he will be short for Thursday.
on Tomas Rosicky...
Rosicky will be back in the squad because he was rested. Giroud is still suspended. I will have to make a decision on who will come back, but Rosicky will come in for sure.
on rotation...
We have Southampton which is another game that will demand a high intensity and commitment, so I will have to look at how we recovered because we gave a lot in the last two games in 48 hours. It's down now to the quality of the recovery.

Rotation is a sensitive subject because you can destabilise your team with too much rotation. So you have to find the right numbers for rotating the team. Overall, you want to keep the balance of your team and as well refresh sometimes in the positions where players are a bit tired.
on Alexis...
Alexis is a guy who has a naturally quick recovery and he has a lot of energy available as well.
on Theo Walcott…
Walcott is involved because he was already in the squad. Of course I judge him a bit short on the competition front but on the fitness front he is ready to play.
http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/20141230/team-news-rosicky-welbeck-walcott

on Aaron Ramsey…
Ramsey is not available yet. There’s no setback but because he had a setback last year, we have to be very cautious with his thigh - he was out for three months.

By the end of the game arsenal will be replacing Southampton on the table. 3 points to sure

Goal

Hmmmm.

how I wish the 3 posts above me were hidden.I will just be...

ajasa4link:
By the end of the game arsenal will be replacing Southampton on the table. 3 points to sure

gunning till we last breathe

Hw many arsenal fan d here. #like

arsenal

Reporting for duty.....2015 style

The enemy of my enemy is my friend

lineup? anyone?

Southampton: Forster, Alderweireld, Fonte, Gardos, Bertrand, Wanyama, Davis, Ward-Prowse, Tadic, Mane, Pelle

Subs: Davis, Yoshida, Long, Isgrove, Reed, McCarthy, Targett

Arsenal: Szczesny, Debuchy, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Gibbs, Coquelin, Chambers, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Cazorla, Rosicky, Sanchez

Subs: Martinez, Monreal, Bellerin, Maitlain-Niles, Campbell, Walcott, Akpom

TEAM NEWS;WOJIECH~~DEBUCHY~~MERTERSACKER~~KOSCIENLY~~GIBBS~~CHAMBERS~~COQUELIN~~CHAMBERLAIN~~ROSICKY~~CAZORLA~~SANCHEZ..,.........CHAMBERS,COQUELIN AND CHAMBERLAIN STARTS IN THE MIDFIELD WHILE SANCHEZ LEAD THE TEAM'S ATTACK!!!!UP GUNNERS

Make I book seat for this vewing center...I dey cum ma go buy gala and la casera to enjoy d game..hala gunnears

horrible horrible lineup from arsenal. will be lucky to get a draw.

Good afternoon and happy New Year! What better way to kick off the glorious potential of 2015 than to sit back and enjoy what promises to be an exciting afternoon of LIVE football? Welcome, then, to Southampton vs Arsenal!

Before we get into some analysis, here are the teams. Southampton starting XI (4-2-3-1): Forster; Alderweireld, Gardos, Fonte, Bertrand; Ward-Prowse, Wanyama; Tadic, S. Davis, Mane; Pelle.

The Saints subs' bench: K. Davis, Yoshida, Long, Isgrove, Reed, McCarthy, Targett.

Arsenal starting XI (4-2-3-1): Szczesny; Debuchy, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Gibbs; Chambers, Coquelin; Oxlade-Chamberlain, Cazorla, Rosicky; Sanchez.

Arsenal subs' bench: Martinez, Walcott, Monreal, Campbell, Akpom, Bellerin, Maitland-Niles.

High-flying Saints have confounded the doubters how had cited their winter slump of last season as evidence of an overachieving team, along with a run of games that saw one point from 15. The home team responded with valuable away wins at Everton and Crystal Palace and a hard-fought point at home to Chelsea, to ensure that December was not as bleak as many had predicted.


Ryan Bertrand returns after his absence against his parent club Chelsea, with Alderweireld moving across to right-back in place of Nathaniel Clyne, but he played there for Atleti last season. Sadio Mane is in hot goal-scoring form and the bench is packed with youth, including exciting winger Lloyd Isgrove and this month's debutant Harrison Reed.

aieromon:
Reporting for duty.....2015 style

The enemy of my enemy is my friend

You are highly welcome... Save your beef for dinner bro ;The





#Gooners

Arsenal are without suspended Olivier Giroud, but welcome back Tomas Rosicky, who was rested against West Ham, a match that Arsenal looked frail at the back in. Gibbs returns for Monreal to add solidity and pace to the back five, in which Szczesny was very impressive against the Hammers.

Victory for the Gunners would see them move above the Saints into fourth place, whereas a home win would see the South Coast team close the gap on third place Manchester United. On recent form, though, perhaps a draw is most likely: three of the last four times Southampton have hosted Arsenal it has ended all square; the other game finished with an away win.

mightyfada:
Southampton: Forster, Alderweireld, Fonte, Gardos, Bertrand, Wanyama, Davis, Ward-Prowse, Tadic, Mane, Pelle

Subs: Davis, Yoshida, Long, Isgrove, Reed, McCarthy, Targett

Arsenal: Szczesny, Debuchy, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Gibbs, Coquelin, Chambers, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Cazorla, Rosicky, Sanchez

Subs: Martinez, Monreal, Bellerin, Maitlain-Niles, Campbell, Walcott, Akpom

Our bench get as e be o

Haters you are all welcomed . Njoy good Ftball now. Arsenal until we top the League again.

Only one ARSENE WENGER. HIT like for #wengerIn HIT share for #wengerOUT

Whatever the result, this game features two teams playing exciting, vibrant football and should be the perfect antidote to sore heads and NYE-inspired lethargy. Join me, Mightyfada from Nairaland Sport e-Centre, very shortly for Southampton vs Arsenal LIVE!

M4gunners:
Haters you are all welcomed

Texykool:

You are highly welcome... Save your beef for dinner bro ;The
#Gooners

Thank you

Sanchez is playing as a striker today



Interesting.

#Teamgunners

GAME ON!

*grabs popcorn and pure haven, turn up the tv volume - sits down and spreads my Arsenal legs to watch*
whistle:::.

Forster open your brains well oh

1' - And we are off! The first fixture of 2015 for these teams, Southampton is their traditional red and white and Arsenal in their yellow and blue change kit.

androidroot:
Only one ARSENE WENGER. HIT like for #wengerIn HIT share for #wengerOUT

I will HIT your head instead