Arsenal vs Southampton: Gunners 'triumphant song'

(Baonghean.vn) - After a somewhat off-beat start, the Gunners finally got their first win against newcomer Watford. With 3 points, Professor Wenger's team confidently returned home to welcome the equally strong Southampton. This is an opportunity for The Gunners to continue to win all 3 points, thereby returning to the race for the championship.

For more than a decade, since the championship won in the 2003-2004 season, Arsenal has not been able to touch the noble "crown" of the most attractive tournament in the foggy country. Throughout this time, Arsenal has been sadly watching the traditional rival Red Devils of Manchester and two emerging forces, Chelsea and Manchester City, successively surpass them to step up to the podium of glory for the winner. After those consecutive failures, The Gunners still continue to put their trust in coach Arsene Wenger.

The Gunners are back to form after their win over Watford in the previous round.

In preparation for the race for the championship this season, the Emirates team has been cautious in the transfer market, only bringing in average names including midfielder Granit Xhaka, striker Takuma Asano and defender Rob Holding. It was not until the summer transfer market was about to close that the Gunners strengthened two notable recruits, midfielder Shkodran Mustafi and striker Lucas Perez.

With such personnel additions, Arsenal has shown to be inferior to the remaining opponents in the “Big Four” group, the two teams from Manchester and Chelsea. When these teams have brought in top strategists along with quality contracts with the ambition to bring success to their home teams.

In the first match, coach Arsene Wenger and his team were doused with cold water when they were defeated by the visiting team Liverpool with a score of 3-4 right at their home ground. A match considered a complete defeat for The Gunners when all 3 lines played below their ability, especially the defense line with its laxity allowed The Kopp's strikers to easily shoot past goalkeeper Petr Cech.

Not stopping there, in the away match against defending champion Leicester City, despite creating countless opportunities, the lack of luck of the strikers prevented the Gunners from penetrating the opponent's net. After that match, many fans of the Emirates team called on the team's Board of Directors to fire the French strategist.

It was not until the third match against the rookie team Watford, with the excellence of midfielder Mesut Ozil, that Arsenal found their first victory of the new season when defeating the home team with a score of 1-3 with goals from Cazorla, Sanchez and Mesut Ozil. This is considered a very important victory to help coach Wenger's team relieve the pressure after the first matches were not as expected.

On the other hand, Southampton, after a successful 2015-2016 season, earned a spot in the Europa League group stage. However, things were not going well for the team nicknamed the Saints because in the summer transfer window, Southampton said goodbye to two important players, Pelle and Mane. More regrettably, the St Mary's team could not keep coach Ronald Koeman - who moved to Everton.

Arsenal are looking to claim their first home win when they host Southampton.

The away team is currently led by new coach Claude Puel. However, this coach's efforts have not shown positive signs. In the last three rounds, they have only won 2 points after draws against Watford and Sunderland at home with the same score of 1-1. Southampton's poor performance at home against teams of equal strength is unacceptable, and their away performance is not much better. They easily lost to championship candidate Manchester United in round 2 with 2 goals from superstar striker Ibrahimovic. That partly shows Southampton's weakness after going through a turbulent summer.

During the away match at Emirates Stadium, coach Claude Puel also did not have the services of two important attacking players, Jeremy Pied and Sofiane Boufal, making it impossible for him to deploy his favorite 4-2-3-1 formation as in the series of friendly matches to prepare for the new season.

With only having to face an opponent who is having problems with form as well as excitement after the first victory in the previous round. The Gunners are facing a great opportunity to win the first victory at home in the new season as a gift for Gunners fans.

Cao Anh