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That’s all from Claude Puel’s pre-#Arsenal press conference.
We’ll have more from the #SaintsFC boss on… https://twitter.com/i/web/status/824987445716537344
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How Puel was Wenger’s enforcer for his early managerial success
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When Claude Puel arrived at Southampton this summer, he did so as a relative unknown in England - except to one man.
For Arsene Wenger, it was a moment he must have cherished. Puel was there for the early successes of Wenger’s career, the moments that led him to a place in the dugout at Arsenal.
Puel, of course, was a member of Wenger’s Monaco side that brought him the first league title win of his managerial career. But the relationship between the two goes far further than that.
A story from earlier this season explains a lot. Wenger may be one of the veterans of the English game but he is not famed for his moments of calm after defeats. His instruction to Puel to go and win the EFL Cup after Arsenal’s quarter-final exit was abnormal.
That can be explained by the understanding that, probably more than any other manager, Puel can be considered a protege of Wenger’s.
It began with the role Puel was asked to play in Wenger’s Monaco side. He may be a relatively quiet man now but Puel was Wenger’s midfield enforcer, the man relied upon to stop the opposition.
‘Puel was well known in training to be a good tackler,’ Wenger joked earlier this season. ‘Even on the morning of a Cup final he could tackle and even if it was the manager then no problem! He was a fighter as a player and he will be a fighter as a manager.’
It’s easy to forget that Wenger’s most successful sides have been built around players like that. At Arsenal there was Patrick Vieira and Emmanuel Petit, the equivalent of dual-wielded hatchets.
Those sometimes brutish midfielders are more of a reflection of the manager’s personality than he might accept, and it is easy to understand Wenger developing a close affinity with players who fulfil that role in his teams.
And Puel was successful, like Petit, like Vieira. Together with Wenger he won Ligue 1 at Monaco in 1987-88, taking six more points than their closest rivals Bordeaux. Even in a team with the talents of Glenn Hoddle, Patrick Battiston and Mark Hateley, Puel was an important figure, missing just five league games all season.
That would be the peak of their achievements together at Monaco. Wenger’s side would never finish first again, while Puel would only win one more trophy during his playing career - the 1991 Coupe de France, also under Wenger. They would also reach the European Cup Winners’ Cup final, although Puel did not play.
But Puel would almost certainly have watched on as his former master’s managerial career took him to Japan and then England.
It’s probably of note that Puel made his first moves in management after Wenger demonstrated what could be achieved by capturing the double with Arsenal in 1998.
Wenger won the Premier League in his first season with Arsenal, repeating the feat that he had achieved in his debut campaign with Monaco.
And Puel explained how Wenger managed to have that immediate impact in an interview in 2014: 'We had some great players and a very good team but we were open and receptive to him from the start. There were no real problems.
‘Arsene Wenger has always had an aura - he’s tall, he has a certain stature, he’s calm, he has a natural authority. He managed to earn the players’ respect without raising his voice because that’s how he does things.’
Puel did exactly the same as Wenger, bringing success to Monaco in his first full season in charge of the principality club, 1998-99, by winning Ligue 1.
He had had a perfect guide. Speaking to Sky Sports, he commented: ‘Of course, Arsene Wenger was very important for me. I learned from him during seven years at Monaco, it’s a long time and now it’s interesting to see all the great trainers to develop what I can do.’
Wenger is a font of managerial wisdom that Puel has gone back to at points in his managerial career. ‘After being Lyon manager [2008 to 2011] I had a sabbatical year and went to see Arsenal train and play thanks to my contact with him,’ he revealed in 2014.
But the two are not exactly the same as managers and it would be unfair to characterise them as such. Wenger was always aware of the importance of a good relationship with the media to success in England, where Puel has occasionally been slightly more unknowable than even the Professor was.
And Puel himself was keen to find a style of his own as a manager: 'I think it is important always to keep my character because it is my personality. But it is interesting to stay open with all the styles, the possibilities of the team.
‘The work of every trainer is interesting. When we can play against all these interesting teams it’s interesting to adapt, to find solutions and to analyse the game. It’s a high level.’
What’s probably of note is that Puel has constructed a team closer in image to the sides Wenger had at the start of his managerial career.
Southampton are pragmatic, occasionally defensive and tend to put more of a focus on avoiding defeat than they do chasing victory.
They have the hallmarks of a great Wenger side too. Oriol Romeu fulfils that breaker role that Puel used to. They can counter at pace and scythe teams apart, preaching a swift knock-out blow rather than constant possession.
It is a system that has brought Puel success throughout his time as a manager, at Monaco, at Lille and at Nice. Wenger will have been watching on with some pride.
On Saturday they will test their wits again in the FA Cup fourth round.
Southampton have already put together an effective display against Wenger’s side once this season, dashing cup dreams. Will Puel overcome his old master again, or does the apprentice still need to learn some more tricks?
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#SaintsFC boss Claude Puel provides an injury update ahead of the #EmiratesFACup tie against #Arsenal: http://sfcne.ws/CPInjuriesAFC
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Tickets for Southampton’s home game against West Ham United have now sold out.
Saints welcome Slaven Bilić’s team to St Mary’s on Saturday 4th February, with kick-off at 3pm GMT, as they look to complete a Premier League double over them.
The match could also see the return of former Southampton captain José Fonte, who joined the Hammers this month.
Despite tickets selling out, you might still be able to get your hands on one.
The Ticket Exchange is now open for Season Ticket holders who can’t make the game to list their seat for sale, allowing other fans who can make it to purchase. Click here to see if there is any availability.
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Saints fans stranded in Southampton got to Anfield in an hour - here’s how
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JUBILANT Saints fans saw their team secure a place in the League Cup final at Wembley after taking just one hour to reach Liverpool.
The fans, who included Southampton’s chief executive, Gareth Rogers, and club ambassador Kelvin Davis, feared they would miss the big match after being left stranded 235 miles from Anfield.
But a rescue operation staged by Flybe ensured they were present to witness one of the greatest nights in the club’s history.
The drama began just two hours before kick off on Wednesday when a technical fault delayed the 3.20pm flight to Manchester - the closest airport to Liverpool that can reached from Southampton on a scheduled service.
Delays and cancellations caused by freezing fog the day before meant other flights were fully-booked.
The only alternatives - a marathon drive or train journey - would have resulted in the fans reaching Liverpool about an hour after full time.
But a plane was miraculously made ready and flew the fans directly to Liverpool’s John Lennon Airport.
The hastily-arranged charter flight organised by Flybe landed at about 7.40pm and a bus took them straight to Anfield. They arrived at the ground about an hour after leaving Southampton.
The mission was masterminded by Flybe’s chief operating officer, Luke Farajallah, after he and his staff saw the fans’ plight unfolding on social media.
He made all of the arrangements to find a plane, round up a crew and arrange priority clearance at John Lennon Airport for the aircraft to land.
The fans missed only the opening few minutes of the match.
A Flybe spokesman said: “Flybe regrets that the (original) flight was delayed due to a technical fault with the aircraft and the subsequent anxiety this caused the many Southampton football supporters relying on this service to travel to Liverpool for the EFL Cup semi-final.
“A replacement aircraft was flown to Southampton to fly the supporters direct to Liverpool, where it was given priority landing at the airport.
"Flybe also organised a coach to meet the aircraft and transport the fans immediately to Anfield. The aircraft departed Southampton at 6.40pm and Flybe took all possible steps to ensure the supporters reached the ground as quickly as possible.
Saints won 1-0, securing a 2-0 aggregate victory over Liverpool to reach the final at Wembley on February 26.
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What can #SaintsFC expect from #Arsenal in the #EmiratesFACup? Journalist @laythy29 gives us his insight: http://sfcne.ws/AFCInsideTrack
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Summary of non-mainstream articles: 27/01/2017 15:32:26
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| Napoli Striker Waiting To Travel To England, Has Heart Set On SouthamptonINSIDEFUTBOLCOM | ...unfashionably cobbled together by Optimus trousers...beta v1.9 - now with EXTRA pictures!| Martin Keown boldly praises reported Everton, Southampton target Harry MaguireHEREISTHECITY |
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Transfer report: Southampton table new £15.2m bid for Napoli striker Manolo Gabbiadini
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Southampton have made an increased £15.2million bid for Napoli striker Manolo Gabbiadini.
The Saints have been chasing the Italian for several weeks now but they cannot agree a fee for his services.
An offer of £13m has already been rejected, while a proposed loan move with an option to buy in the summer has been snubbed too.
But now, according to reports in Italy, Southampton have made a brand new bid in the hope a deal can finally be done.
The transfer fee could also go up in the future, with various bonuses also said to be part of the Saints’ proposal.
Gabbiadini, for his part, is reportedly very keen on a move to England and talks over personal terms are expected to be swift.
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Arsenal top! Premier League table if Paul Merson’s predictions were always right
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Premier League table if Paul Merson’s predictions were always right
WHAT would the Premier League table look like if Paul Merson’s predictions were always right?
The Soccer Saturday pundit gives his verdict on each Premier League match before the fixtures kick-off.
But it seems as though he might be favouring his old side Arsenal.
The Gunners would be at the top of the table if Merson was always right.
Click through the gallery above to see Paul Merson’s Premier League table based on his predictions each week.
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Southampton vs Arsenal team news and more
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Theo Walcott returns to the Arsenal squad for the FA Cup fourth round clash against Southampton on Saturday.
The winger has shaken off a calf injury in time to face his former club, while Mathieu Debuchy (hamstring) and Per Mertesacker (knee) are also back in first-team training.
Arsene Wenger is likely to rest two or three of his key Gunners players but is without Granit Xhaka, who starts a four-game ban following his red card against Burnley, as well as Mohamed Elneny (international duty) and Santi Cazorla (Achilles).
Southampton will be without Virgil van Dijk, James Ward-Prowse and Jay Rodriguez.
Defender Van Dijk, who sustained an ankle injury last Sunday, is set for a lengthy spell on the sidelines after missing Saints’ EFL Cup win at Liverpool on Wednesday while striker Rodriguez suffered a knock to his ankle at Anfield and was forced off at half-time.
Ward-Prowse also hobbled off in the same game and Saturday’s game comes too soon for the midfielder, while defender Florin Gardos is edging closer to a return to action after taking part in training this week but is still short of match fitness. Charlie Austin, Jeremy Pied, Matt Targett, Alex McCarthy and Sofiane Boufal all remain injured.
FA Cup fourth round: Find out who Robbie Savage is tipping to win - do you agree?
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Celebrating Southampton fans turn post boxes into team shirts
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Southampton football fans have celebrated their team reaching the EFL Cup final by painting the city’s post boxes in the club’s famous stripes.
Two red post boxes have been given white stripes to match the Saints’ colours since Wednesday’s semi-final win over Liverpool at Anfield.
The makeovers have been met with support by local business owners and residents who called it a “fun” change.
But Royal Mail said it planned to remove the stripes as soon as possible.
Southampton beat Liverpool 2-0 across two legs to earn trip to Wembley for the cup final against Manchester United on 26 February.
But rather than painting the town red, some fans got out the white paint to celebrate and the post boxes in Queens Way and Bargate were adorned with the stripes.
Graeme McLeish, owner of Oceans Gift Shop, said: “It appeals to my sense of humour, I suppose technically it is vandalism but it’s just a bit of fun and knowing how big Saints are becoming I think it’s a celebration and patriotic.”
Kerry Browne, a news agent shop assistant in Above Bar Street, added: “I just think why not, it’s not harming anyone and it’s a bit of fun. Maybe if they manage to win the cup we should get them re-painted and make it a proper tribute.”
A Royal Mail spokesman said: “We congratulate Southampton FC on their success however will be returning the post boxes to their original colour as soon as it is reasonably possible.”
Post boxes in the home towns of Team GB gold medallists were memorably painted gold as a permanent change after the London 2012 Olympics.
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Summary of non-mainstream articles: 27/01/2017 16:32:34
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|| Video Channel ! Opposition Preview With Arsenal Fan TV - Southampton NewsTHEUGLYINSIDE |
| | Arsene Wenger hails Arsenal’s refusal to give in ahead of Southampton tripBELFASTTELE |
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Arsene Wenger will put out a strong Arsenal team against Southampton in their FA Cup clash tomorrow evening.
The Gunners will travel to a buoyant St Mary’s after the Saints reached the EFL Cup final in midweek, and Wenger will hope his team doesn’t come unstuck in the same way Liverpool did on Wednesday night.
Petr Cech, Laurent Koscielny and Alexis Sanchez sat out the third-round win at Preston and while Wenger intends to rest a couple of key figures, he insists his side will be a strong one.
“We’ll put out a team with first-team experience,” he said.
“Maybe there will be one or two younger players, but no more. Overall, it’s the squad that will play. I have not yet completely decided who will play and who will not play. It’s a first-team squad who will be involved.”
Former Saints youngster Theo Walcott could return from a calf injury to be involved while his England colleague Danny Welbeck will be pushing for his first start since recovering from a long-term knee problem.
Arsenal were due to return to St Mary’s in the league in under a month but that game will now be rearranged after Southampton’s mid-week heroics and Wenger believes they will take plenty of confidence from overcoming Jurgen Klopp’s Reds to set up a Wembley final against Manchester United.
“They are on a high,” he added.
"They produced a fantastic performance, so overall that makes the game even more interesting and more difficult as well.
“They are not short of confidence at the moment and will certainly have a big support, but it’s an FA Cup game and we want to qualify.”
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How did last January’s Premier League transfers pan out? Every team assessed
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The January transfer window is a chance for every Premier League club to address deficiencies within their squad and change their fortunes for the better in the second half of the campaign. However, navigating the market can be treacherous with many a mid-winter rip-off or ill-conceived deal waiting around the corner.
We assessed the business done by each Premier League club last year and decided whether their buys were a hit or a miss.
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The 13 Prem stars who have played every minute this season… can you guess them all?
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WHICH Premier League stars have played every single minute of the season so far?
22 rounds of fixtures have now been contested in the Premier League.
That’s a total of 1,980 minutes for each side.
So which players have been on the pitch for every minute of action during the campaign so far?
Click through the gallery above to find out.
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#Arsenal visit St Mary’s tomorrow!
Who could forget what happened the last time they made the trip to #SaintsFC… https://grabyo.com/g/v/4Wj4yWur8WA
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hours to go!
Get set for the #EmiratesFACup showdown between #SaintsFC and #Arsenal with our match preview: http://sfcne.ws/PreviewArsenalFAC
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Summary of non-mainstream articles: 27/01/2017 17:32:52
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...mincingly prepared by Optimus trousers...beta v1.9 - now with EXTRA pictures!| FA Cup: Arsene Wenger says Southampton clash 'interesting and difficult’FIRSTPOST |
|| Has Shane Long revealed Liverpool’s Achilles heel?GOLIVERPOOL |
| | Quiz! Name the starting line-ups for each FA Cup winner since 1993 - TEAMtalk | Latest Football News & Transfer RumoursTEAMTALK |
|| Southampton vs Arsenal, FA Cup 2017: Where to watch live, preview, betting odds and possible XIIBTIMES |
|| Southampton target deal for 29-year-old as Puel looks to solve defensive dilemma | | Where football transfer rumours …THETRANSFERTAVERN |
|| Southampton v Arsenal: something must be wrong with the injury tables. « Untold Arsenal: Arsenal News; Supporting …UNTOLDARSENAL |
|| Saints closer to matching Gabbiadini feeCLUBCALL |
Sourced from Southampton FC - Official Site article
Saints to face United at Wembley
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United booked their place at Wembley Stadium tonight, beating Hull City 3-2 on aggregate, despite a 2-1 defeat to the Tigers at KCOM Stadium.
It means there will be a repeat of the 1976 FA Cup final, which Saints famously won 1-0, thanks to a late Bobby Stokes goal.
Southampton made it to Wembley after they beat Liverpool 1-0 at Anfield last night, giving Claude Puel’s side a 2-0 aggregate triumph.
Saints and United will now meet in London on Sunday 26th February, with kick-off scheduled for 4.30pm GMT.
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Every active Premier League manager ranked by their first EVER signing in the top flight
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The transfer windows are arguably the most important period for any professional club manager.
So often bosses of the top teams are judged on their activity – or lack thereof – in the market, with plenty of criticism falling their way should business not be up to scratch.
Taking this into consideration, we decided to take a trip down memory lane, looking at each active Premier League manager’s first ever signing in the top flight.
So for managers such as Jose Mourinho, the player at question will be who his debut signing was with his first club in England, Chelsea.
Check out our ranking by scrolling through the gallery above.
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