But I certainly think he's ran out of the same gusto and oomph that got us the last league title, 10 years ago.
We put up a scintillating and heart warming performances against BVB, two and a half days later we almost did the same but despite our low key performances in the second period, at least we managed to scrap out a deserved away win at West Brom.
Cazorla, to be specific is slowly picking up from where he left at in his debut season, where he managed to score over 10 goals, coupling them up with a few more assists.
The little magician, showcased his class against BVB bagging both assists on the night (Setting up Sanogo and Sanchez), repeating the same fete on Saturday with an exquisite lay off, following a superb run on the left flank.
An ardent Arsenal fan wouldn't be surprised since the 29-year-old Spaniard was frustrated after Wenger left him on the bench against United, a fortnight ago. That's what he's made of and we should expect more of that once Wenger consistently plays him in the middle and not on the flanks.
Sanchez who's on his 14th goal of the season in just 15 games, has more than silenced his doubters (if only there were any). Manchester City, Burnley and most recently BVB, his well crafted goals are nothing but sheer class.
Alexis, branded the 'bull' by Arteta for his unquestionable work rate, has surely done everything we ever expected from him, in fact he's surpassed our imaginations.
He's never threw in the towel even when Chelsea gave him the boots nor did he wither away when Wilshere infamously decided not to pass an easy ball for the Chile international to slot into an empty net.
Well the mighty Gunners today welcome third-placed Southampton, who already have collapsed in one of their tests, with Chelsea and United set to face them in the near future. But what the gunners shouldn’t forget is that the same Saints eliminated us from the league cup at Emirates, a painful result that eclipsed Sanchez's world class free kick.
Having sold a number of their first team players in the summer, Ronald Koeman has defied all odds by establishing a solid team whose solidarity has seen them catapult past United and Arsenal in the table, and just a number of points below City and Chelsea.
However today represents one of the oddest days for the likes of Ox and Chambers who'll be playing against the lads whom they've grown with for a large period. Despite all that we don't care, at least there won't be any boos to affect their work rate, in fact how I wish Walcott was fit and the three would be bombarding their defence in search for a goal, which would prove pivotal to the clubs.
The club enters arguably the busiest period in English football where teams have to abandon their families temporarily for a period of 15 days of nothing but football action, which normally is characterized by a minimum of 8 CRUCIAL games stretching to X-mas through boxing day to the New Year.
With that in mind, if Wenger really has the 'experience' which he continuously brags of, it's the high time he puts it to use. One way is by rotating his players wisely, not because January transfer window is around the corner but because he's clearly KILLING players' careers! This may actually be the best time toi unleash Rosicky, Campbell, Podolski and the likes of Bellerin and let them play for the club's colors if he means business.
Today's match brings about some bitter memories, when I dive into my Arsenal's anger list, vividly remembering that this fixture, last season served as one of our down falls, in our failed title bid. Remember Flamini's own goal denying us the maximum points?
Lord help us I can't stomach a similar display tonight.
MATCH FACTS:
- Southampton have only won two of their 37 league games at Arsenal (D12, L23).
- Arsenal are unbeaten at home against Saints in the Premier League (W11, D4).
- Saints won the last game at Arsenal, a 2-1 League Cup victory in September, and have only lost one of the last four meetings (W1, D2).
- Arsenal are unbeaten in their last nine Premier League games against Southampton (W5, D4).
- Arsenal have only won one of their last five league home games (D3, L1).
- They are 11 points worse off than they were at this stage last season, when they were top of the Premier League table.
- Defeat in their last league home game against Manchester United ended a 23-match unbeaten league run at the Emirates.
- The Gunners have trailed in five of their six league home games this season.
- Arsene Wenger has only won one of his seven matches against Ronald Koeman (D4, L2).
- Olivier Giroud has scored three goals in his last two league games against Saints.
- Danny Welbeck ended a six-game Arsenal run without a goal against West Brom on Saturday.
- Olivier Giroud has scored three goals in his last two Premier League games against the Saints.
- Arsenal have attempted more shots (excl. blocked) from outside the box than any other Premier League side this season (70).
- Southampton’s three PL defeats this season have all come against sides that finished in the top six of the 2013-14 Premier League table (Man City,Liverpool and Tottenham). Arsenal finished fourth last season.
Southampton
- Southampton's tally of seven away league goals is the fewest among the Premier League's top-seven clubs.
- All three of Saints' league defeats have come against sides who finished in last year's top-six (Arsenal finished fourth).
- They conceded as many goals in Sunday's 3-0 defeat against Manchester City as they had in their previous 10 league home games combined.
- Nathaniel Clyne has scored in two of his last three meetings with Arsenal - the League Cup winner in September and an own goal in a 6-1 defeat two years previously.
My predicted lineup: Martinez, Chambers, Mertesacker, Koscielny,Gibbs, Flamini, Ramsey, Sanchez, Cazorla, Chamberlain, Giroud
My prediction: Arsenal 2-0 Southampton
@bryoshavin
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