Arsenal were knocked out of the FA Cup by Southampton this past weekend and on Tuesday, the Gunners will face the Saints once again, this time in the EPL.
The North London side have been in pretty decent form in the Premier League over the past few weeks and everyone thought this momentum would see them through to the next round of the FA Cup.
But despite dealing with so many injuries, Ralph Hasenhuttl’s side managed to pick up a 1-0 win on Saturday and many experts think a repeat of the same could happen in midweek as well.
But talking to the press, manager Mikel Arteta explained that even though he is under no impression that this EPL game will not get any easier from that of the weekend but his players have learnt a thing or two from the St Mary’s defeat defeat.
He said in his pre-match press conference, as per the club’s official website: “They are one of the most effective teams at doing that, like we are. It was a really intense game and we were expecting that for sure and we’re expecting it on Tuesday because they don’t really change.
“They are a really great team, they have a really good manager, they know exactly what they’re doing. They’ve been doing it for years now and they are good at it so we respect that and we expect a similar game on Tuesday.
“I think both teams will learn [from playing each other again so soon]. I don’t think that any manager or players like to play the same opponent twice.
“Obviously we will take things from Saturday’s game that we will analyse, we have already talked about them and will try to make them better in the next game. The one I really want to change is the result, because I want to win the game.”
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Arsenal have been in decent form in the EPL having not tasted defeat in their last five matches. But all that could change this weekend against the Saints.
Southampton have been playing some of their best football under Hasenhuttl this season and despite so many first-team players out injured, the Saints currently find themselves above the Gunners on the league table.
Arsenal have the talent to overcome the Southampton press but they have a really shaky defensive line – something Ralph Hasenhuttl’s side would be looking to exploit on Tuesday.
