On Wednesday, coach Ralph Hasenhüttl was taunted with chants of “you’re getting sacked in the morning” by his own fans, but Southampton still ended a run of five games without a win (D1, L4) by beating Bournemouth 1-0.
The under-pressure manager admitted the victory at the Vitality Stadium was an “important” one, but did warn his players not to rest on their laurels as they try to put further distance between themselves and the Premier League relegation zone.
The next challenge for the Saints is to improve their form at St Mary’s, where they have picked up just one win in seven (D2, L4) since beating opponents Arsenal here back in April.
That 1-0 victory was also the last time they kept a clean sheet on home soil, where three of their four home defeats have come despite scoring first.
That defeat for the Gunners on the South Coast was somewhat of a rarity given they have lost just four of the last 25 head-to-head meetings between the two teams (W13, D8), scoring at least two goals on 15 occasions.
It’s not just history but also form on the side of the visitors who can boast having picked up six victories in their seven competitive away outings this season (L1).
This form has helped Mikel Arteta’s side to the summit of the Premier League as they chase their first English crown in 19 years.
They have still only dropped three league points this season (W9, L1) and registered a third successive 1-0 victory by defeating PSV in the UEFA Europa League on Thursday night, but the manager is urging his players not to take Southampton lightly, admitting “we have to be on our toes.”
Players to watch
Che Adams (26), Southampton’s match-winner at Bournemouth on Wednesday, has lost just two of his last 18 goalscoring appearances for club or country (W14, D2). Meanwhile Arsenal’s top scorer Gabriel Jesus (25) has scored just once in nine appearances against the Saints, but has picked up six wins in the process (D2, L1).
Hot stat
There have been at least three goals scored in ten of Southampton’s last 13 competitive home matches.
