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Arsenal v Southampton: Metro.co.uk’s big match preview
Chris Davie for Metro.co.uk
Friday 9 Sep 2016 4:47 pm
Arsenal FC
Premier League Southampton FC
Comments (1)
Two Arsenal debutants set to feature against Southampton. (Picture: Metro.co.uk)
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Arsenal finally secured their first win of the Premier League season before the international break, and Arsene Wenger’s men will be looking to build on that as Southampton visit the Etihad Stadium on Saturday.
It’s a big game for…
The two Arsenal debutants. Shkodran Mustafi and Lucas Perez were the Gunners’ late marquee signings as Wenger looked to plug holes in his defence and attack.
Mustafi joins with a point to prove, not just his £35 million price tag, but whether he can cut it in the Premier League after his failed stint at Everton.
Perez claims he was contacted by Arsenal early in the window but the lateness of his move suggest that Wenger had other targets in mind before settling for the uncapped Spaniard.
The 27-year-old has been around the houses with spells in Ukraine and Greece and he’s only hit double figures for league goals just once in his career. Wenger has admitted Perez is a gamble because he’s coming from an overseas league, but the striker’s record suggests he may need time to settle.
Likely line-ups…
Mustafi is expected to start alongside Laurent Koscielny at centre-back, but Perez could struggle to start ahead of Grioud, despite his sub-par display in France’s goalless draw with Belarus earlier this week.
Southampton will have to wait at least a month to see club-record £16 million signing Sofiane Boufal after he arrived from Lille with a knee injury.
But in better news for Saints, Claude Puel has confirmed Fraser Forster is set to feature after missing England duty with an arm injury.
If you memorise one stat, memorise this…
Arsenal haven’t lost in 21 consecutive home league games against Southampton – the last time they were beaten was in November 1987.
Last time they met…
It ended in a goalless draw at the Emirates Stadium in February, and the Gunners slipped to five points behind eventual champions Leicester City.
From the archives…
Jermaine Pennant marked his Premier League debut with a hat-trick against Southampton in 2003. Arsenal fans will be hoping Perez has deliver something just as memorable.
Metro.co.uk prediction…
Arsenal have a solid record at home against Southampton and they looked superb at times against Watford in their last outing before the international break. This could be the game that gets Giroud up and running. Arsenal win 2-1.
Lucas Perez

http://metro.co.uk/2016/09/09/arsenal-v-southampton-metro-co-uks-big-match-preview-6117841/