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Puel confirms Virgil van Dijk and Ward-Prowse [both ankle] will miss the fourth round tie vs Arsenal. Jay Rodriguez is also out. #SaintsFC
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FA Cup Round Four: Michael Owen makes Liverpool, Chelsea, Arsenal and Man Utd predictions
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Jurgen Klopp’s side are enduring a miserable month and required a replay to see off League Two side Plymouth in the previous round. The Liverpool boss fielded youthful XIs against Argyle and is expected to pick a strong team to face the Championship outfit. But former Reds striker Owen believes they will have to bide their team to pick off Wolves.
He told BetVictor: "Liverpool need a good solid home win after their League Cup reverse midweek to Southampton especially with leaders Chelsea due at Anfield back in the Premier League on Tuesday night. “There will be over 8,000 Wolves fans at Anfield cheering on Paul Lambert’s side who did gain a notable scalp in round three when they won at Stoke City and I think they will try and sit back and frustrate Jurgen Klopp’s side who may need to be patient.” Chelsea will have to beat west London rivals Brentford tomorrow to book their place in the fifth round but Owen expects a comfortable afternoon for Antonio Conte’s side.
“I can’t see past an emphatic home win in this west London derby despite the fact that Antonio Conte is likely to rotate his squad with one eye on the trip to Anfield midweek,” he said. “Michy Batshuayi scored in Round three against Peterborough and is likely to get another rare start up front – the young Belgian is taken to make the most of his opportunity.” Southampton beat Arsenal in the EFL Cup earlier this season and will be hoping to do the same again in the FA Cup tomorrow evening.
Claude Puel’s side are on a high after book their place at Wembley for the EFL Cup final. But Owen believes Arsenal will sneak past the Saints. He said: "Southampton are looking to become the first side since Manchester United in the early 80s to knock Arsenal out of both domestic cup competitions in the same season following their 2-0 League Cup win at the Emirates at the end of November.
“The Saints didn’t miss Virgil van Dijk at Anfield but they may be more vulnerable to the Gunners counter attacks back at St Mary’s and I think Arsenal will get revenge for their League Cup defeat.” FA Cup holders Manchester United host Wigan in the final tie of the weekend and Owen believes it will be a stroll in the park for his former club. He said: “Wigan were FA Cup winners back in 2013 and beaten semi-finalists twelve months later but I can’t see them getting anything at the home of the holders and expect United to comfortably make it through to the next round.”
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Sourced from Southampton FC - Official Site article
Press Conference (part two: Puel looks ahead to Gunners
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Welbeck set for first Arsenal start in nine months in Southampton FA Cup tie
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Arsene Wenger admits he will make changes for the FA Cup - but insists he will not get caught out again by Southampton.
Arsenal were knocked out of this season’s EFL Cup at home in the last eight by now-finalists Saints after resting big names, and there will be further changes for the Saturday’s tea-time rematch at St Mary’s in round four of the senior competition.
Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil could both get a breather ahead of the Premier League clash with Watford on Tuesday, with Wenger preparing to gamble on his team selection ahead of a demanding run of fixtures.
The Gunners’ boss insists he has no choice but to rest and rotate and claims whichever team he picks should be strong enough to win, as the likes of Danny Welbeck and Lucas Perez are desperate for a chance.
Wenger, who has won the FA Cup six times in his 20-year reign in North London, said: “It will be a strong enough team to have a chance to win the game. I play only first team players.
“At the moment we have to fight everywhere. If we give up in the championship people will say, 'Are you mad?’ We have to fight for the championship absolutely to strengthen our position in the Premier League.
“We have a home game against Watford on Tuesday that is absolutely vital again.
After, we go to Chelsea on the following Saturday so we have absolutely 100 per cent focus — and after that we want to qualify against Bayern Munich in the Champions League [on February 15 and March 7] as well.”
Welbeck started his comeback after a lengthy knee injury as a substitute in the FA Cup at Preston in the last round, and has also made brief appearances off the bench in the two subsequent league games.
The England international will be involved at Southampton, with Wenger admitting some of his forwards need a breather.
He added of Welbeck: “He looks sharp, he’s worked very hard. Maybe it will be an opportunity for him.
"In training he still lacks a fraction of zip when he starts. But overall he looks quite fit. What is the most important is that he doesn’t look scared — that’s the biggest hurdle when you come back.
“The players who played the most in our team offensively are, basically, Sanchez. All the others… Giroud has not played too many games, he is fresh, Walcott is now coming back from a good breather.
“So up front we have Perez who has not played many games. We have plenty of offensive potential who is fresh. It’s now down to me to use them at the right moment when they are in good form and in the right way.”
Wenger gave Ozil a breather this week and the Germany midfielder was spotted in Sweden rather than at a team meal.
And the manager said he was puzzled that Ozil missed the dinner as he says he was one of the organisers of the night out.
Wenger added: “I am surprised there is no Mesut Ozil because he is one of them that suggested that. Maybe he was hidden somewhere or didn’t want to be in the photo.
"I am sure he was there.”
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Sourced from Daily Star article
Claude Puel: Thanks for the advice Wenger - but now I’m going to knock you out again!
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Claude Puel’s Southampton side faces an injury crisis with NINE players out
Puel played under and coached alongside Wenger at Monaco and asked his fellow Frenchman for advice when Saints came calling in the summer.
The close friends will be reunited at St Mary’s today with Puel bidding for a repeat of his side’s Saints’ EFL Cup triumph.
Puel said: “We spoke together before I signed with Southampton and with important decisions Arsene can always give good advice with his experience. Now we are rivals.
“I have a lot of respect for my former trainer. It was a pleasure to see him again for the first game in the cup. We came away thanks to a strong will with a good result.”
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Summary of non-mainstream articles: 28/01/2017 02:37:01
| | Tactical Analysis: Southampton vs ArsenalREADARSENAL |
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So, it’s #SaintsFC against #MUFC at Wembley Stadium!
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Sourced from Mirror.co.uk article
Puel targets FA Cup win over pal Wenger, who talked him into the Southampton job
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Claude Puel wants to repay Arsene Wenger for talking him into taking the Southampton job – by ending Arsenal’s bid for a record-breaking 13th FA Cup triumph.
Then-midfielder Puel played under Wenger at Monaco from 1987-94 and asked his fellow Frenchman for advice when Saints came calling for him last summer.
He has already turned the tables on his mentor once this season, masterminding the South Coast club’s EFL Cup quarter-final triumph at the Emirates.
And now his team have gone on to next month’s final of that competition, Puel is looking for a repeat when Arsenal visit for Saturday evening’s fourth-round tie.
Puel, who stepped down at Nice after steering them to a fourth place finish in Ligue 1 last season, said: “We spoke together before I signed with Southampton, and with important decisions Arsene can always give good advice with his experience.
"Now we are rivals.
“I have a lot of respect for my former trainer. It was a pleasure to see him again for the first game in the cup.
“We came away thanks to a strong will with a good result.”
Southampton are on a high after Wednesday’s shock EFL Cup semi-final victory over Liverpool.
But booking their place at Wembley has come at a price with nine players on the injured list, including captain Virgil van Dijk and strike pair Jay Rodriguez and Charlie Austin.
Romania international defender Florin Gardos is on standby to make his first appearance since injuring a knee in 2015, as Puel tries to save players for Tuesday’s Premier League trip to Swansea.
“It was a great performance at Liverpool but now it’s finished," the Frenchman said. "It’s about coming back in the FA Cup against a great opponent. It will be important to play a great game with a good result.
“This is a competition we want to continue in. It’s difficult with tired legs and all the injuries.
"Arsenal didn’t play this week and can give all their energy for this game. They have a strong squad with a lot of possibilities. We don’t have Charlie Austin, Van Dijk, James Ward-Prowse or Rodriguez for this game. That is almost a whole team.
“We’ve played three games more in January than Arsenal, without recovery and with a lot of injuries. This is difficult.
“We’re now the team who has played most games since the beginning of the season. It’s a young club with young players and they have played all these games. It’s crazy.
“It is important for me to protect young players against injuries. The priority all the time is to try and keep a good balance with the team.
“Rotation is difficult with nine injured players. But when we played Arsenal earlier in the season we won 2-0 with a lot of young players, so I don’t accept playing these players means we will have a weakened team.”
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Summary of non-mainstream articles: 28/01/2017 06:38:33
| | Napoli push Saints on Gabbiadini | Football ItaliaFOOTBALLITALIA |
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Summary of non-mainstream articles: 28/01/2017 07:38:58
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@SouthamptonFC - Southampton FC
It’s matchday!
#SaintsFC vs #Arsenal
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Heading to #SaintsFC’s clash with #Arsenal today? Here are some of the key timings to help you plan your visit to S… https://twitter.com/i/web/status/825259623242403840
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Summary of non-mainstream articles: 28/01/2017 08:39:55
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Arsene Wenger hints at first start for Danny Welbeck in seven months
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Danny Welbeck could make his long-awaited return to the Arsenal starting line-up as a replacement for Alexis Sanchez when Arsène Wenger’s side meet Southampton in Saturday’s FA Cup fourth round tie at the Emirates.
The 26-year-old striker has not started for his club since last May, when he sustained a knee cartilage problem against Manchester City in a 2-2 draw at the Etihad Stadium which ruled him out of England’s European Championship campaign.
However, having appeared as a late substitute in Sunday’s dramatic 2-1 win over Burnley and trained well during the week, Welbeck could potentially play from the off against Claude Puel’s Saints.
“He has a chance to start or to come on, yes,” Wenger confirmed. “He looks sharp, he’s worked very hard. Maybe it will be an opportunity for him.
“At his age and in his position he was sure to go to the European Championship. What happened to him was unbelievable and he was down for a while, but now he looks to have recovered. In training he still lacks a fraction of zip when he starts, but overall he looks quite fit.
“What is the most important is that he doesn’t look scared. That’s the biggest hurdle when you come back.”
Welbeck could well replace Sanchez in Wenger’s line-up, despite the Chilean securing three points against Burnley by scoring a penalty at the death.
Sanchez did not feature in the previous round’s win at Preston North End and, having clocked up significantly more minutes than his fellow Arsenal forwards, Wenger implied that he will be rested once again.
“The players who played the most in our team offensively are basically Sanchez. All the others – [Olivier] Giroud has not played too many games, he is fresh, [Theo] Walcott is now coming back from a good breather, so up front we have [Lucas] Perez who has not played many games.
“We have plenty of offensive potential who is fresh. It’s now down to me to use them at the right moment when they are in good form and in the right way.”
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What an FA Cup memory this is!
#OnThisDay in 1984, Steve Moran’s late winner saw #SaintsFC knock out #Pompey: https://grabyo.com/g/v/joORHGCZ0GX
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Happy #ChineseNewYear to all #SaintsFC fans celebrating today!
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Sourced from Daily Echo article
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Forgotten man Florin Gardos could make his first Saints appearance in nearly two years against Arsenal in the FA Cup fourth round today.
Claude Puel is set to rotate his weary team again, with a young team lined-up to face the Gunners.
Gardos, who hasn’t played since February 2015 because of injuries, has been monitored by Puel ahead today’s match, with options limited at centre-back.
With Virgil van Dijk injured and Jose Fonte now at West Ham, Maya Yoshida and Jack Stephens, who played together in the League Cup on Wednesday night at Liverpool, are the only other centre-back options available.
But Puel will be keen to rest one of them, with a trip to Swansea in the Premier League fast approaching on Tuesday night.
“Florin comes back in to the squad tomorrow,” the boss said. “We will see if he can start or not, but he came back with a good level in the training sessions.
“His last game was with the under-23s, but we will see if he can play many times without injury because it has been difficult for him since the beginning of the season.
“It’s difficult after every injury to come back at a good level, but for the moment it’s interesting and I hope he can continue this good work.”
Captain Van Dijk remains out for the Arsenal game, while Jay Rodriguez and James Ward-Prowse are both sidelined because of minor ankle problems.
Ward-Prowse is expected to be back against the Swans, while Rodriguez is likely to return against West Ham a week today.
“For us for this game we don’t have Austin, Van Dijk, McCarthy, Hesketh, Pied, Ward-Prowse, Rodriguez and a lot of players,” said Puel.
“For Arsenal it’s one or two players [injured], it’s not a lot of difference, but for us we have a lot of injuries.
“I have to have a good balance between young and experienced players to play this game.”
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Summary of non-mainstream articles: 28/01/2017 09:40:18
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| Win Percent Of Just 33 Without Mane - Stats Shows How Sadio Mane’s Absence Is Hurting Liverpool Big TimeSOCCERSOULS |
| | Rotation or not? Who will play for Arsenal at Southampton? | Just Arsenal NewsJUSTARSENALNEWS |
|| Southampton vs. Arsenal: The needed XIs, the key battle and everything else you must to knowFOOTBALLFANCAST |
|| Non-league: Premier League star thinks FA should do more for non-league clubsTHISISBOURNEMOUTH |
| | Southampton-Arsenal, FA Cup 4th Round: How Badly Do We Want This?BERGKAMPESQUE |
| | Arsenal’s Wenger wants revenge over buoyant SaintsWORLDSOCCERTALK |
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Sourced from Daily Echo article
Puel: this season has been “crazy”
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CLAUDE Puel admitted Saints have had no time to “take pleasure” from their League Cup heroics due to their “crazy” fixture schedule.
Saints are in the midst of their busiest-ever Premier League era season, and it’s now even more jam-packed after they reached the League Cup final at Wembley next month.
Puel’s men will play their 36th game of the season in all competitions against Arsenal in the fourth round of the FA Cup today at St Mary’s.
“We have no time to take pleasure, but just to keep a good concentration about the next game because this is a competition (the FA Cup) we want to continue in – and all the competitions,” Puel said.
“We know it’s difficult because of all the injuries and the tiredness also is difficult, but we’ve got to try and we will see.
“Arsenal didn’t play this week and can keep all the energy for this game, but we will want to continue this possibility to play many games.”
Saints have had to balance a Europa League group stage campaign, a run to the final of the League Cup, their usual Premier League fixtures as well as the FA Cup in a rammed season.
Puel thinks that it has been “crazy”.
“It’s the same since the beginning of the season,” Puel said. “It is always difficult.
“We’ve got to play between 28 December and 4 February 12 games … it’s crazy!
“We are the team that have played the most games since the beginning of the season tomorrow.
“For Southampton it’s a club with young players and they play all these games? It’s crazy.
“And in the international break also we have a lot of international players and they play every time in the national team.
“It’s difficult and it’s important for me to protect the players against the injuries.”
Even with such a busy schedule, Puel is keen to progress further in the FA Cup to increase the club’s chances of reaching Europe next term.
The St Mary’s chief is preparing a much-changed and young side against Arsenal because of the game’s close proximity to the League Cup semi-final second leg win at Liverpool and the trip to Swansea in the Premier League on Tuesday.
“It’s important for all the squad to have game time and a solution to see European games next year,” Puel said.
“It’s all important to consider the Premier League because we need points and after to see Wembley.
“It’s important to protect the level, to keep the level of the team.
“Without the injured players it’s difficult in that moment, with nine players injured. I don’t know exactly the number, but it’s a lot [of injured].
“It was the same in the second leg against Liverpool… to prepare this game with all the problems is difficult.
“But it was fantastic to qualify for Wembley, even in this condition.”
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