Match Preview
Southampton v Arsenal
David Seaman faces a fitness test to determine whether he is recalled to the Arsenal side at Southampton for his first return to the St Mary's stadium since his blunder against Macedonia.
Seaman, who missed last weekend's north London derby with a groin injury, is hoping to be back but he must first prove himself in kicking practice.
Arsene Wenger also has doubts over Freddie Ljungberg (knee), Edu (groin) and Dennis Bergkamp (ribs), while Gilberto Silva, who played for Brazil in South Korea this week, is likely to miss out.
Lauren is, meanwhile, still likely to be missing with an ankle injury, while Martin Keown, Ray Parlour and Kanu are longer-term absentees.
Southampton midfielder Anders Svensson is a major doubt ahead of the clash with the Premiership leaders.
Svensson will undergo a late fitness test after picking up a thigh injury during Sweden's 3-3 draw with the Czech Republic on Wednesday - Rory Delap is on stand-by to return to the staring line-up if Svensson does not recover in time.
Ecuador striker Agustin Delgado could make his first league start after impressing as a second-half substitute against Newcastle last weekend.
HEAD TO HEAD NOTES
The corresponding match last season came at a time when Southampton where finding it hard to get off the mark at their new St Mary's home. Arsenal won 0-2 with an early goal from Robert Pires, and a Thierry Henry strike midway through the second half. In between the Saints were reduced to ten men when Chris Marsden was shown the red card on the hour.
Arsenal have won over double as many League meetings as the Saints, 32 to 15 with 17 draws.
Southampton have won just one of the last seven corresponding fixtures.
The Gunners are chasing their sixth win in ten League visits to the south coast.
Three of Arsenal's last eight League wins at Southampton have been by a commanding 4-0 margin.
Southampton's biggest win in this corresponding fixture was 3-0 on 7 December, 1985 in the old League - Division One. Arsenal's biggest win in a League match at Southampton was 0-4 in the Premiership on 19 March, 1994.
The last player to bag a hat trick in this identical fixture was Ian Wright. The Arsenal striker scored three of his sides' goals in the 0-4 Premiership win on 19 March, 1994.
SOUTHAMPTON
Current League position
11th 17 points
Only 'goals scored' separate Saints from a place in the top half
Best Scenario at final whistle
Up 2 to 9th
If win. Saints would rise 3 to 8th if also they win by an improbable five clear goals.
Worst Scenario at final whistle
Down 4 to 15th
If lose, while Man City [away to Middlesbrough] at least draw, and Fulham [home to Liverpool], Aston Villa [home to West Ham] and Birmingham [away to Sunderland] all win.
Sequences
NOT WON IN 4 - 3 Prem, 1 WC [1 draw, 3 losses]
SCORED ONE GOAL IN EACH OF LAST 4 - 3 Prem, 1 WC
SCORED IN EACH OF LAST 9 - 7 Prem
GONE 5 SINCE A CLEAN SHEET [4 Prem]
UNBEATEN AT HOME - 7 Prem, 1 WC [4 wins, 4 draws]
NOT LOST IN 7 HOME LEAGUE GAMES [3 wins, 4 draws]
Recent Form
4 wins in last 8 League and Cup games
Won 3 of last 9 Premiership matches
Drawn 3 of last 9 in all competitions
1 draw in last 6 top flight encounters
Lost 3 of last 13 confrontations
1 defeat in last 7 top division duels
Failed to score in 2 of last 14 contests
Failed to find the net in 2 of the last 9 League clashes
3 clean sheets in last 11
Managed 1 clean sheet in last 5 top tier League outings
Potential Career Milestones
Brett ORMEROD is a one away from 50 career League goals.
If he takes the field, Joe TESSEM will be making his 100th appearance for Southampton.
If on the field at kick off, Marion PAHARS will be making his 100th League start for the St Mary's outfit.
ADDITIONAL SAINTS NOTES
One of five clubs to have drawn most Premiership matches (5). The others are Blackburn, Chelsea. Man United, Sunderland.
Drawn most home matches at the highest League level (4).
One of four clubs with an unbeaten home top division record. The others are Everton, Liverpool and Middlesbrough.
Scored the earliest goal in the Premiership so far this season. That was Jamie Beattie's strike, officially timed at 71 seconds, in the 2-1 away defeat at Newcastle on 16 November.
The Premiership's weakest finishers having conceded more goals in the last five minutes than any other club (5). The other is Everton.
One of four clubs to have hit the woodwork just once in Premiership matches this season. The others are Blackburn, Tottenham and West Ham.
One of two clubs whose players have been shown three red cards in Premiership matches. The other is Southampton. No other clubs' players have been shown more in top division games.
Converted all four penalties awarded in Premiership matches. No other club this season has scored that many spot kicks in top division games.
ARSENAL
Current League position
TOP 32 points
One point clear
Best Scenario at final whistle
Increase lead at the top to four points
If win, while Liverpool [away to Fulham] lose.
Worst Scenario at final whistle
Down 1 to 2nd
If lose, while Liverpool [away to Fulham] win.
Sequences
WON LAST 3 PREMIERSHIP GAMES, WITHOUT CONCEDING
NOT CONCEDED A PREMIERSHIP GOAL IN 281 mins [4 hrs 41 mins]
SCORED IN EACH OF LAST 53 TOP FLIGHT MATCHES
GONE 10 LEAGUE GAMES SINCE A DRAW
Recent Form
3 wins in last 9 League and Cup games
Won 10 of last 14 Premiership matches
Drawn 1 of last 17 in all competitions
1 draw in last 12 top flight encounters
Lost 5 of last 9 confrontations
2 defeats in last 35 top division duels
Failed to score in 1 of last 22 contests
Failed to find the net in 1 of last 57 League clashes
4 clean sheets in last 5
Managed 3 clean sheets in last 8 top tier League outings
Potential Career Milestones
Dennis BERGKAMP is a brace away from scoring 100 goals for Arsenal.
ADDITIONAL GUNNERS NOTES
Won last three Premiership games.
Last League game when failed to score was the goalless draw at Newcastle on 15 May, 2001.
Won most Premiership matches (10).
Top scorers in the Premiership with 31 goals - that's an average of one every 41 minutes.
Only club to have scored in every top division match this season.
One of four clubs to have lost fewest away Premiership games (1). The others are Blackburn, Chelsea and Liverpool.
One of two clubs to have scored most away Premier League goals (12). The other is Leeds.
One of two clubs to have scored as many as five goals in a single Premiership game. That was in the 5-2 home win over West Brom on 27 August.
Involved in one of the Premier League's three highest aggregate matches . That was the 7 goals in the 5-2 home win over West Brom on 27 August.
One of two clubs to have scored first in most Premiership matches (11). The other is Liverpool.
Teams:
Southampton (from): Niemi, Dodd, Bridge, M Svensson, Lundekvam, Fernandes, Delap, Oakley, Marsden, Beattie, Delgado, Jones, Williams, Telfer, Ormerod, Pahars.
Arsenal (from): Seaman, Shaaban, Taylor, Cole, Luzhny, Lauren, Campbell, Cygan, Stepanovs, Toure, Vieira, Edu, Gilberto, Ljungberg, Pires, Wiltord, Henry, Bergkamp, Jeffers
Referee: Paul Durkin
Paul Durkin is the grand old man of the Premiership, even though, at 45, he's not technically that old. The Dorset born ref has now turned professional, but previously listed his occupation as 'administrator'.
Durkin has been a Premier League referee since its inception back in 1992, and is one of the most respected amongst managers and players. His handling of 1999/2000's crunch tie between Manchester United and Arsenal drew particular praise, especially when the heated affair drew only one booking.
As you'd expect from one of the veterans, Durkin has been refereeing for some time - starting his career back in 1974 and progressing to the Football League in 1987. Highlights so far have been the 1998 FA Cup final between Arsenal and Newcastle and taking charge of matches during 1998 World Cup Finals in France.
Durkin took charge of 21 matches during 2001/02, dishing out an average of 2.85 yellow cards per game.
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