OptiNews - Friday 08 to Thursday 14 December 2017

Sourced from A tweet by SouthamptonFC tweet

@SouthamptonFC - Southampton FC

:alarm_clock:

It’s an early start at St Mary’s today! Here are your key timings for #SaintsFC’s meeting with #Arsenal:

Retweets: 3

Favourites: 1

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Sourced from A tweet by SouthamptonFC tweet

@SouthamptonFC - Southampton FC

:earth_americas:

It’s a big one at St Mary’s today, but where around the world are you following our clash with #Arsenal from,… https://twitter.com/i/web/status/939767391990439936

Retweets: 1

Favourites: 5

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Sourced from Daily Star article

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger urges players to take Europa League form to Southampton

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The Gunners boss wants his side to build on Thursday night’s six-goal demolition of BATE Borisov in the Europa League at St Mary’s. Wenger said: “There should be goals because they are an offensive team as well, with offensive potential. “There have been loads of goals scored in the last five games between us. They have Charlie Austin back and players like Dusan Tadic, Nathan Redmond and Sofi ane Boufal. The results against Everton and Bournemouth show they are on the rise. “I thought in the second half against Bournemouth they looked dangerous and always capable of scoring.” It is expected Arsenal’s line-up will once again change as players such as Jack Wilshere, Theo Walcott and Olivier Giroud make way for Mesut Ozil, Alexis Sanchez and Alexandre Lacazette. But Shkodran Mustafi will miss out after limping off with a thigh injury in last weekend’s 3-1 defeat to Manchester United.

Despite his ability to rotate his team between competitions, Wenger has been unable to keep pace with those at the business end of the Premier League table and talk of a first title since 2004 is well down the agenda. But he said: “At the moment we have different worries than the title. After such disappointment, you have to think about winning the next game. “We are in a position where we have to take the month of December in a very serious way and be very efficient. “We are too far from the title at the moment to speak about it. It’s not realistic. Let’s try to win our next game and over a longer distance see if we can come back.” Wenger is unhappy that Arsenal are being forced to play a league match so soon after a European game. Although he will make sweeping changes today, it does not sit well that his side face a noon kick-off.

Wenger added: “I have nothing against the fact that we have to do that, as long as our opponents have the same recovery days. “That was not the case last week and will not be the case again. Between three days and five days is a big gap on the recovery side. If we have to play every day I don’t mind as long as our opponents do as well.” Wilshere and Walcott, who would be regulars in most other sides, must wait yet again for a chance – the same as defender Mathieu Debuchy who got the ball rolling in the win over BATE as he scored his first goal in almost three years. Debuchy, 32, wanted to leave last season and revealed he rarely spoke with Wenger. Asked if the full-back had a future with the club, his manager said: “He’s under contract. That’s down to his performances now and I opened the door for him to leave many times because he didn’t play and because he has Hector Bellerin in front of him. “I consider him like anybody else and I have a huge respect for his professional side and how much he fought to come back to the top. He’s a tough, tough guy.”

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Sourced from Mirror.co.uk article

Why Arsene Wenger is wary of Arsenal’s festive trip to Southampton

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Arsene Wenger hopes that the ghosts of Christmases past won’t be upon his side at Southampton.

Goodwill has been in short supply for the Gunners boss and his elves on recent yuletide trips to St Mary’s.

Wenger admitted: “In the last couple of years, we have been down on December 26 and January 1 after difficult games and, it is true, it was always a difficult reception there.

“I must say as well, when you look at the players they had a few years ago – Adam Lallana, Sadio Mane, Graziano Pelle – they had an outstanding team.

“Sometimes, in a smaller club, there are fewer expectations and you’re not conscious of how good you are.

“But, on the day, they can give you a problem.” The Gunners have won just three of their last 10 visits to the Saints in total in the Premier League.

And, with the countdown on to this Christmas, Wenger – whose side did win 2-0 at St Mary’s last season – is ready for another tough battle.

Arsenal were beaten 3-1 by Manchester United in a cracking game last weekend, but they then bounced back to thrash Belarusian outfit BATE Borisov 6-0 in the Europa League.

Wenger added: “We responded well on Thursday and we have to respond well in the Premier League.

“Southampton are a good side as well and that will be expected from us.

“And that’s what we expect from ourselves – to respond straight away.”

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Sourced from Daily Mail article

Pellegrino backs under fire keeper Forster ahead of Arsenal showdown

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Mauricio Pellegrino has thrown his support behind Southampton goalkeeper Fraser Forster to prove Gareth Southgate wrong by shining against Arsenal on Sunday.

Forster hasn’t kept a clean sheet in his last six Premier League outings in a run dating back to October and has found himself under intense pressure to rediscover his form after being dropped from recent England squads.

The 6ft 7inch former Celtic stopper looked to have done just that during last weekend’s 1-1 draw with Bournemouth after making a string of superb saves.

Manager Pellegrino said: 'We have to realise that football changes every single week.

'Sometimes you are viewed as the best and sometimes everybody is punishing you because you made a couple of mistakes.

'And even more so when you are a goalkeeper because they are always alone and they have to defend themselves in this type of situation.

‘You have to have personality to keep going and when you make mistakes and say, ‘yes, I made a mistake’ and then when you keep going, you will be stronger in the future.’

In Arsenal’s last Premier League match against Manchester United the Gunners forced David de Gea to make a record number 14 saves, despite losing 3-1.

After putting six past BATE Borisov in Thursday night’s Europa League match Arsene Wenger’s men will be hungry for more of the same at St Mary’s.

But continuing his glowing endorsement of Forster, Pellegrino added: 'He is doing a lot of things.

‘He is working hard physically and working hard mentally to be prepared, not just on, but also off the pitch.’

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Sourced from A tweet by SouthamptonFC tweet

@SouthamptonFC - Southampton FC

#OnThisDay in 1994… @mattletiss7 with one of the all-time great #PL goals! :raised_hands: #saintsfc

Retweets: 2

Favourites: 4

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Sourced from Optimus trousers summary article summary

Summary of non-mainstream articles: 10/12/2017 09:04:32

|

| Rio Ferdinand: Why Liverpool FC can sign Virgil van Dijk in JanuarySPORTREVIEWCOM |
| | Opposition Dangerman: Arsenal (H)READSOUTHAMPTON |
| | Southampton v. Arsenal: Stats Preview7AMKICKOFF |
| | Arsenal Vs Southampton: 3 things to watch for in match week 16FANSIDEDPAININTHEARSENAL |
| | Arsenal team news: Injury setback for Wenger, key absentee at SouthamptonCAUGHTOFFSIDE |

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Sourced from A tweet by SouthamptonFC tweet

@SouthamptonFC - Southampton FC

Can’t make it to St Mary’s?

Follow the action from #SaintsFC’s clash against #Arsenal with free commentary and li… https://twitter.com/i/web/status/939785258379202560

Retweets: 2

Favourites: 5

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Sourced from A tweet by SouthamptonFC tweet

@SouthamptonFC - Southampton FC

:boom: #saintsfc

Retweets: 3

Favourites: 15

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Sourced from A tweet by SouthamptonFC tweet

@SouthamptonFC - Southampton FC

Heading in! :facepunch: #saintsfc

Retweets: 2

Favourites: 15

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Summary of non-mainstream articles: 10/12/2017 10:04:43

| | Arsenal squad to face Southampton revealed ahead of Premier League clashFOOTBALLLONDON |

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Sourced from A tweet by wesleyhoedt tweet

@wesleyhoedt - Wesley Hoedt

Matchday! #SaintsFC #SOUARS #PL

Retweets: 9

Favourites: 41

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Sourced from A tweet by AdamBlackmore tweet

@AdamBlackmore - Adam Blackmore

Good morning from St Mary’s stadium.

Cold, blustery, wet and bloody early

A good day to see if Arsenal can do it… https://twitter.com/i/web/status/939796288153030656

Retweets: 4

Favourites: 33

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Sourced from A tweet by SouthamptonFC tweet

@SouthamptonFC - Southampton FC

:one::five: minutes until team news!

Who are you hoping to see in the #SaintsFC starting XI to face #Arsenal?

Retweets: 2

Favourites: 5

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Summary of non-mainstream articles: 10/12/2017 11:04:56

| | Southampton v Arsenal Predictions, Betting Tips & Odds - 10-12-2017KICKOFFCOUK |

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Sourced from A tweet by SouthamptonFC tweet

@SouthamptonFC - Southampton FC

The teams are in! :innocent:

Here’s how #SaintsFC line-up against #Arsenal this afternoon in the #PL:

Retweets: 123

Favourites: 137

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Sourced from A tweet by Arsenal tweet

@Arsenal - Arsenal FC

The waiting is over - here’s our team for #SFCvAFC

Retweets: 1634

Favourites: 1793

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Sourced from A tweet by SouthamptonFC tweet

@SouthamptonFC - Southampton FC

:speech_balloon:

#SaintsFC boss Mauricio Pellegrino says his side will have to be at their best to beat #Arsenal today:

Retweets: 8

Favourites: 14

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Sourced from A tweet by SouthamptonFC tweet

@SouthamptonFC - Southampton FC

Warming up! :fire:

Watch as #SaintsFC are put through their final preparations ahead of #Arsenal:

Retweets: 6

Favourites: 10

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Summary of non-mainstream articles: 10/12/2017 12:05:06

| | Southampton V Arsenal Preview, Line-Up and Score Prediction | Just Arsenal NewsJUSTARSENALNEWS |
| | EVERARSENAL |
|

| Arsenal: The Belles of St Mary’sPOSITIVELYARSENAL |
| | Bad for Everton: Southampton’s shock Arsenal target101GREATGOALS |
| | Mertesacker Starts In Attacking 3-4-2-1 - Southampton v Arsenal [Predicted Lineups] ALLARSENALRUMOURS |
| | Arsenal Team News vs Southampton: Mustafi still out for Sunday; Mertesacker likely contenderTHEHARDTACKLE |
| | How Arsenal should lineup vs Southampton at St Mary’sFOOTBALLLONDON |

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