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Arsenal vs Southampton: 4 Things We Learned From FA Cup Defeat

By Ross Kennerley

SOUTHAMPTON, ENGLAND - JANUARY 23: Mikel Arteta of Arsenal during Southampton v Arsenal, The Emirates FA Cup Fourth Round, on January 23, 2021 in Southampton, England. Sporting stadiums around the UK remain under strict restrictions due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in games being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Robin Jones/Getty Images)
SOUTHAMPTON, ENGLAND - JANUARY 23: Mikel Arteta of Arsenal during Southampton v Arsenal, The Emirates FA Cup Fourth Round, on January 23, 2021 in Southampton, England. Sporting stadiums around the UK remain under strict restrictions due to the Coronavirus Pandemic as Government social distancing laws prohibit fans inside venues resulting in games being played behind closed doors. (Photo by Robin Jones/Getty Images) /
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Arsenal, Granit Xhaka
Arsenal’s Swiss midfielder Granit Xhaka (Photo by BEN STANSALL/AFP via Getty Images) /

Tired Southampton on Tuesday

All Premier League matches are of paramount importance to Arsenal until the end of the season, and heading back to a stadium that has not been a happy hunting ground in recent years on Tuesday, Southampton are now there for the taking.

Hasenhuttl fielded a side as strong as he could have on Saturday, with all bar the goalkeeper expected to take to the pitch once more on Tuesday. Arsenal, by contrast, have Kieran Tierney and Smith Rowe to come back in without playing a single minute, Partey’s help with build-up phases from the start, Alexandre Lacazette to add bite in attack and Saka to keep the Saints’ defence occupied.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is an uncertainty.

That freshness puts Arteta’s side in good stead to claim three points against a side who’ve won just one of their last six Premier League encounters.

Nothing is a given as far as Arsenal are concerned. If you’re in search of reassurance though, that comes as a bonus, regardless of how meagre it may be.

Next. Why Arsenal need Odegaard. dark

Even with fatigue, Southampton can play better than they did. They didn’t need to be at their best to win on Saturday. Yet with upgrades in positions across the pitch for Arsenal in round two, they will show more fight and will play better. They have to.

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