| Who’s the dangerman? - Arsenal (H) | Southampton host Arsenal on Wednesday night as one of their two games in hand on the teams around them. Saints have … 09-05-2017 |
No matter how urgent the short-term crisis facing Arsenal – and heading into Wednesday’s match against Southampton with six points to make up on fourth place registers as arguably the most urgent crisis of Arsene Wenger’s two decades in charge – there was a reminder on Tuesday that even bigger forces are at play, forces which will shape the club in even more meaningful ways than the ability to secure Champions League football for next season.
It was a reminder which cut through the white noise of the weekly questions about Wenger’s future: the news conference background radiation which always faintly registers, but as Wenger bats away query after query as to whether he has made a decision and when it will be communicated, is drowned out by more significant sound bites. That changed on Tuesday, ahead of his meeting with former protege Claude Puel at St. Mary’s, when it was not his personal intentions which were scrutinised, but instead his power and authority.
It seemed like a fairly routine question, in response to reports that Arsenal had been considering appointing a director of football, but it drew a desultory response from Wenger, even sarcastic. His comments bear repeating in full.
“No. I don’t know what director of football means,” Wenger said.
“Is it somebody who stands in the road and directs play right and left? I don’t understand, and I never did understand what it means. No, no, no. Sorry, no. I’m not prepared to talk about that. I’m the manager of Arsenal Football Club, and as long as I’m manager of Arsenal Football Club, I will decide what happens on the technical front. That’s it.”
Wenger might not be operating at football’s cutting edge any more, but it is surely disingenuous to pretend he does not know the role of a director of football. The title might vary across clubs, but the concept of having an appointee establish consistency of approach and continuity of style, as well as helping to shape and implement transfer policy, cannot be a foreign one. Wenger has a bespoke analytics team at his disposal these days, yet he professes not to know what a director of football might do for his club.
This reaction was quite revealing. Wenger clearly sees any plot to put someone upstairs as a potential erosion of his power. Rightly so: it would be, and that is the whole point. That would be the moment at which Arsenal begin to manage his departure in a joined-up and controlled way, the moment when Wenger starts to be phased out.
Chief executive Ivan Gazidis famously spoke of using the club’s disastrous form since the turn of the year as a “catalyst for change” and appointing someone at director of football level would certainly fit this remit. Wenger, though, seems utterly opposed. It puts him firmly at odds with someone who is ostensibly his boss, and it establishes a very unhelpful dynamic going into the summer, when the genuine, meaningful change that so many supporters have been demanding looks almost certain to be denied.
It is change which is much needed. Wenger is an old-school boss, maybe the last of the centralised autocrats, but the game is a new one, or at least renewed. It is a game of transfer committees, performance directors, sporting directors and technical directors. Structures which outlast managers and, in theory at least, give clubs stability and identity beyond the whims of one man. It does not always work out like that of course, but the single-manager model is a redundant one for a reason.
Wenger is often criticised when he says he built Arsenal. But if you are talking about Arsenal as a modern entity – their style, culture and infrastructure – it is hard to make an opposing case. He has effectively constructed it all, and judging by his surprisingly forthright resistance to the very idea of sharing his power, it is hard to imagine the situation changing, or indeed Wenger departing this summer, leaving his life’s work behind him.
The immediate task on Wednesday might be to obtain the win needed to keep the top-four challenge alive, moving to within three points of fourth-placed Manchester City and four of third-placed Liverpool, with a game in hand over Jurgen Klopp’s side, but Wenger’s performance in the prematch news conference hinted at more difficult, more existential battles ahead, between the board and manager, and, by extension, the supporters too.
On the basis of Tuesday’s power play, anyone who thinks that Wenger is ready to step quietly into the shadows, or that next season will be materially different from this, could be in for a rude shock.
Tom is one of ESPN FC’s Arsenal bloggers. You can follow him on Twitter @tomEurosport
Primary school teachers can register for free resources and parents can nominate schools by visiting Premier League Primary Stars
Children from Redbridge Primary School had a day to remember recently when Southampton first-team player Nathan Redmond came along to take part in lessons as part of the Premier League Primary Stars initiative.
The school is one of 27 that are working with the Saints Foundation and PL Primary Stars, the Premier League’s most ambitious community programme to date which aims to support 10,000 primary schools by 2019.
It uses the appeal of professional football clubs to engage children aged 5-11 during their studies, through free teaching resources, and the impact is certainly being felt at Redbridge Primary.
Headteacher Donna Clarke says: "What I really like about it, it focuses on PE and develping children’s attitudes and skills within sports, and all of the positive elements of that you can apply across all aspects of life, but it also focuses on PSHE, English and Maths.
“It’s open to all children irrespective of whether they are interested in sport or not.”
Redbridge Primary was renamed the Nathan Redmond School in honour of the visit and the Saints winger got fully involved in the day, taking part in a whole-school assembly and well as a PSHE lesson.
“Everything in sport, you need the foundation of education, and that’s why this is so important,” Redmond told the Daily Echo. “It’s brilliant to be able to give back to the children and have a Premier League team so close to the school and community.”
Running alongside this is the new Premier League Primary Stars Kit and Equipment scheme, which gives teachers the opportunity to get their hands on a full team kit or a range of useful equipment for their school that can be used for different subject areas.
Teachers can apply for the chance to receive free kit or equipment for their school by registering for the programme at PLPrimaryStars.com.
Parents can also nominate their school via the website. This year’s application window opens from 24 April-9 June.
Claude Puel’s men will be buoyed by a resilient display in their 0-0 with Liverpool at Anfield at the weekend, as they look to finish the season strongly.
Visitors Arsenal meanwhile, will be looking to follow up their 2-0 success over Manchester United as they look to avoid missing out on a Champions League spot for the first time in two decades.
TEAM NEWS
Southampton: Manager Claude Puel has no fresh injury concerns following the draw at Liverpool but will assess the players in terms of potential fatigue.
The boss also discussed the returns of Charlie Austin and Matt Targett following their minutes for the Under-23s and has hinted they could return before the close of the campaign.
Arsenal: Arsene Wenger will make a late check on the fitness of Laurent Koscielny, but Granit Xhaka should be ok following his withdrawal against Manchester United.
Elsewhere, Lucas Perez is fit and has returned to training and Danny Welbeck did not suffer any injury in the last fixture.
FORM GUIDE
Southampton’s previous five:
Liverpool (a) D 0-0
Hull City (h) D 0-0
Chelsea (a) L 4-2
Manchester City (h) L 0-3
West Brom (a) W 0-1
Arsenal’s previous five:
Manchester United (h) W 2-0
Tottenham Hotspur (a) L 2-1
Leicester City (h) W 1-0
Manchester City (n) W 2-1 (Emirates FA Cup)
Middlesbrough (a) W 2-1
Austin delighted to be back from injury
TOP PERFORMERS
Fraser Forster produced an outstanding display to shut Liverpool out for the fourth time this season.
The England international denied his former Newcastle United colleague James Milner from the penalty spot as well as making eight saves. He is likely to be key once more if Saints are to get a positive result against the Gunners.
Top scorers: Charlie Austin (9), Nathan Redmond (7)
Most assists: Dušan Tadić (6), James Ward-Prowse (5)
Former Saint Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain provided two assists against Manchester United to take his tally to seven for the season – as many as he had in the previous five campaigns.
One of those assists was for Danny Welbeck, who Puel’s men will be more than aware of after his FA Cup double at St Mary’s earlier on in the season.
Top scorers: Alexis Sanchez (24), Theo Walcott (19), Olivier Giroud (13)
Most assists: Alexis Sanchez (14), Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (11), Mesut Özil (10)
PREVIOUS MEETINGS
All-time record:
Played: 92
Southampton: 20
Draws: 25
Arsenal: 47
Previous four meetings:
January 2017: Southampton 0-5 Arsenal
November 2016: Arsenal 0-2 Southampton (Clasie, Bertrand)
September 2016: Arsenal 2-1 Southampton (Cech OG)
February 2016: Arsenal 0-0 Southampton
DID YOU KNOW?
Arsene Wenger’s side have lost five of their last six away Premier League games – the same number they’d lost in their previous 27 on the road in the competition.
– Arsenal are winless in their five previous away visits to St Mary’s in the Premier League, last winning there in December 2003 (D3 L2).
NOT AT THE GAME?
Don’t worry if you can’t make it to St Mary’s! Our interactive match centre at southamptonfc.com will have all the build-up, as well as in-game updates and free live audio commentary.
Additionally, be sure to follow us on our various social channels for behind-the-scenes access and further updates:
| Key Battles - Arsenal (H) | After an impressive defensive performance against Liverpool at Anfield on Sunday, Southampton will be back in action … 09-05-2017 |
| Podcast: Liverpool vs Southampton reaction | Last Sunday Southampton picked up a heard earned point away at Anfield, as Fraser Forster stole the headlines with a … 09-05-2017 |
Inside the Spanish juggernaut shares his personal highlights from the season, as well as revealing what has enabled him to perform so consistently well on the pitch.
Romeu also speaks about his pride at being named both the fans and players’ Player of the Season, and discusses all his fellow winners at the Player Awards.
Elsewhere, columnist Franny Benali tells us about his busy footballing weekend and what it was like to be accused of Saints-biased commentary live on TalkSPORT!
Bleacher Report’s Sam Tighe gives a further insight into today’s opposition, as well as analysing Fraser Forster’s fine display during the Liverpool stalemate.
All of the usual Saints nostalgia is also included in this edition, as well as a free minimalist poster of Martín Cáceres and the latest news from our Academy.
There are more outlets than ever from which to purchase this season’s matchday magazine, which retails at £4.
You can also pre-order, find all old editions and take out a subscription for the season by visiting saintsmagazines.co.uk.
Will Nathan Redmond get your vote for the Daily Echo’s Southampton FC Player of the Season Award?
The £10m signing from Norwich struggled early on in his first season at Saints, but has become a reliable and an exciting attacking option - although the end product hasn’t always been there.
Thankfully they have now dried up and he’s been allowed to develop his game without too much hindrance.
Claude Puel initially decided to play Redmond as a striker, which yielded some success but he never truly looked settled there.
He managed three goals there but he himself admitted that settling in upfront was a big challenge.
“I’m learning a new position,” he said in October. “I’m playing up front. Rome wasn’t built in a day and neither will I transferring into becoming a striker.
“I’m learning daily in training and learning during the games as well. The more I get in those areas the better I’ll get at finishing.”
But as the French boss turned back to the trusty 4-2-3-1 formation, which has previously served Saints so well, Redmond was deployed in a more familiar role out wide.
There he has been one of Saints’ bright sparks and won his first senior England cap after a decent run of games, which included a brace in the 4-3 win at Watford.
Arsene Wenger takes his Arsenal side to St Mary’s on Wednesday as the Gunners look to carry on pushing for a top four finish.
This game could be huge for Wenger’s future with a defeat surely ending their top four chances.
They beat Manchester United on Sunday and will be desperate not to slip up against Southampton.
The Saints currently sit in a mid table position and will be hoping to finish in the top 10 again.
Here is everything you need to know ahead of the clash.
The match kicks off at 7:45pm on Wednesday night at St Mary’s stadium
The game is not being shown live on TV but is available for streaming on Arsenal Player.
Southampton
Southampton’s Matt Targett (fitness), Virjil Van Djik (foot), and Jason McCarthy (hamstring) all remain unavailable for the clash against the Gunners.
Charlie Austin could make his return to the side. The striker has been left out of the side since December 8 after dislocating his shoulder in a Europa League home draw with Hapoel Be’er Sheva.
Shkrodan Mustafi may make his return to the side as he has returned to full training yet still lacks full fitness.
Lucas Perez is also doubtful to start against the Saints, but Santi Cazorla is still out.
Claude Puel’s side currently sit in mid table in the Premier League with games in hand on West Brom and West Ham
Victory here could see them rise to eighth which and Claude Puel’s side will certainly be looking for a top half finish.
The Gunners continue to chase a spot in the top four and they know in order to get Champions League next season, they will have to win all of their remaining games.
Arsene Wenger has has achieved a top four finish with the Gunners for the past 21 years that he has been with the club.
The Frenchman will not want to ruin his perfect record and will make sure his side claim victory here against the Saints.
Claude Puel fancies Southampton striker Manolo Gabbiadini to get back on the goal trail against Arsenal – and end his managerial mentor Arsene Wenger’s faint hopes of gate-crashing the top four.
Italy international Gabbiadini was in scorching form following his £17million move from Serie A heavyweights Napoli in January, scoring six times in his first four games as a Saint.
But the 25-year-old goes into Wednesday’s home game having failed to find the net in his four appearances since returning from a March groin problem that ended his prolific run.
Boss Puel said: “Sometimes it’s difficult when you come back from an injury, difficult to find the good rhythm and good intensity.
“On Sunday we played a difficult opponent for a striker — against Liverpool it’s difficult for a striker. He played alone between two or three defenders and it’s difficult to have the good ball.
“Like many strikers his quality is in the box. Against Arsenal I think this game will be open and perhaps we will see more opportunities for them and for us.”
Puel is pals with Wenger after playing and then coaching under his fellow Frenchman at Monaco in the 1990s.
He says his old friend is still the right man to take Arsenal forward, even if they miss out on a Champions League place for the first time under him.
The sixth-placed Gunners have games in hand on their rivals, but probably need to win every match to stand any chance of climbing above Liverpool or Manchester City to join Chelsea and Tottenham at UEFA’s top table.
Puel said: “It has been a difficult championship this season. All the great teams are present at the top.
“It is difficult with just four places for the Champions League, but perhaps it is a season of transition for Arsenal. I hope it is finished, because I want to get a good result against them. They can win the FA Cup [the Gunners face Chelsea at Wembley on May xx], and if Arsene was to win this cup it would be a good season.
“I think he is a great manager for Arsenal for the future.”
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