Although the FA Cup’s appeal in the early rounds often centres around giant-killings, the highlight of this weekend’s set of Fourth Round fixtures may well be a meeting between two top-tier clubs in the shape of Southampton and Arsenal.
While there could be arguments made for both sides having their priorities elsewhere for the latter half of the campaign, neither will want to surrender to the other and the Saints actually have a good record against the Gunners – as witnessed in their EFL Cup victory on north London soil earlier this season.
There will, in all likelihood, be changes made by both teams as they balance other responsibilities, but that’s not to say either manager will be going weak, with the FA Cup having been a factor that’s kept the Arsenal fans somewhat in the Arsene Wenger camp in recent years, while Claude Puel has the chance to do a domestic cup double after reaching the Wembley final of the FA Cup’s less appreciated sibling, the EFL Cup.
It’s all geared up to be fascinating, then, and here are THREE battles that could decide the clash…
Olivier Giroud vs. Jack Stephens
Subbed off late on during the dramatic end period of the Burnley win, Giroud is likely to retain his starting spot vs. the Saints, even with Watford looming on the horizon in midweek Premier League action. The Frenchman has been in great form for the Gunners over the winter period, with his physicality giving Arsene Wenger’s men a different option amid a hectic fixture schedule.
Southampton may make a few changes from their draining League Cup semi-final win over Liverpool on Wednesday, but one area Claude Puel where has little scope to alter his XI is at centre-back following Virgil van Dijk’s injury.
22-year-old Stephens was immense vs. the Reds (as the stats above show) and he looks tailor-made to take on Giroud in a battle that may well define the outcome of this tie. The Saints are by no means prolific scorers – their return of 22 in the Premier League is only two more than relegation battlers Hull and Sunderland have managed – so the chances are any success will hinge on limiting the Gunners’ chances of putting the ball in the net.
Stephens will not be alone, with Maya Yoshida likely to line up alongside him, but he will have to have eyes in the back of his head to track Giroud’s movement while also being aware of the wide forwards’ inward runs to support the Frenchman.
Francis Coquelin vs. Steven Davis
Midfield is likely to be where Southampton freshen their legs, but one man who could be asked to go again is Davis. The newly-named captain after Jose Fonte’s exit is among the most under-rated players in his position in the Premier League, with his mix of tenacity and technique often getting overlooked – probably because he doesn’t have an exotic name!
With Granit Xhaka out via (another) red card, Wenger should turn to Coquelin to provide the steel in the centre of his midfield, which will put the Frenchman up against the aforementioned Northern Irishman. Unlike Davis, though, the former Charlton loanee will have plenty in the tank for this match after sitting on the bench for the bulk of Arsenal’s win over Burnley. This extra energy could be vital come the latter stages of the second half, with the Saints likely to grow weary.
Shane Long vs. Laurent Koscielny
With a full week off before kick-off, Arsenal will surely use at least one of their key centre-back pairing of Laurent Koscielny or Shkodran Mustafi, and we think the cultured Frenchman may get the nod. The former Lorient man has matured into one of the top central defenders in English football after a slightly rocky start and offers a nice mix of technical quality on the ball and defensive nous, which will be key against Long.
The Irish forward came on as a half-time substitute against Liverpool and notched the goal that killed the tie with a typically industrious run forward to finish off a counter-attack. With only 45 minutes under his belt, he should be more than fresh enough to run the channels at St Mary’s Stadium and pull the Gunners’ centre-backs out of position to create space for his team-mates. Koscielny will need to be in communication with his full-backs to ensure these runs don’t disrupt the back four as a whole.
