Ahead of the upcoming Premier League game against Arsenal, Saints fan Tom Mason, 20, places himself In the Dugout.

First impressions of Ralph Hasenhuttl?

Daily Echo:

Ralph Hasenhuttl

They have been very positive.

He's come into the club and really got the fans back on side after three managers in the last 18 months which haven't exactly been exciting appointments.

I didn't know huge amounts about him prior to his move to Saints, although his teams like to play on the front foot and if he can get us back anywhere near to how it was under Pochettino and Koeman then we're onto a winner.

He has also cancelled the players' day off this week, which is simply something that wouldn't have happened under the three previous managers.

I feel that overall, it's the right appointment and one which will have a major impact on keeping us in the division.

Daily Echo:

Tom Mason

Pre-match thoughts on Arsenal?

It's a game we have to win now.

After losing to both Fulham and Cardiff in our last two away games, this is now a match which we've got to be getting three points out of, despite the different fortunes of the two sides.

Arsenal, are a real threat going forward and will, of course pose us a threat, but I feel that they are leaky at the back. and also, they are set to be without Holding (injury), Mustafi and Sokratis (Suspension), which could hand us a boost with Koscielny only recently returning to the side.

Daily Echo:

Arsenal manager Unai Emery

The atmosphere is likely to be better than usual, due to it being Ralph's first home game and, so if we can get it back to how it was a couple of years ago this could really spur the team on.

What do you make of the upcoming fixtures?

I see the next run of games as very challenging.

In the next five it’s Arsenal, Huddersfield, West Ham, Man City and Chelsea.

Three of the top five, where obviously we're expecting to get very little out of. The games against Huddersfield and West Ham are the ones which we have to target for victories.

As a minimum, I feel that we need to collect seven points from the run of games over Christmas, because otherwise the club could be really cut adrift and in real danger.

Despite this, West Ham have turned a corner of late, winning their last three and this will be a much tougher test than it may have been at the start of the season, but it's one where nothing less than three points will do.

The games against Manchester City and Chelsea in the space of just five days is going to be a real challenge, but games which we really need to turn up for and at the very least put in a strong performance heading into an important start of 2019.

How would you set the side up for Arsenal’s visit?

Daily Echo:

James Ward-Prowse

Depending on the fitness of the players, I'd revert to a 4-3-3 formation.

My team would be: McCarthy; Bertrand, Bednarek, Yoshida, Cedric; Lemina, Hojbjerg, Ward-Prowse; Armstrong, Redmond, Ings.

Three of those players, Bertrand, Cedric and Ings all missed out at the weekend, but I feel that all three will return to the side as, with Ings in particular his absence has been missed massively in recent games with Austin and Gabbiadini rotating in the striking position with little effect.

I'd also, bring Ward-Prowse into the team because his set pieces are something which the side could really have benefited from this season, had he played more, and I see him suiting the tactics of the new manager as he looks to reignite his Saints career.

Getting as much creativity into the side as possible is key, because against Arsenal, Saints will need to be really clinical if they are going to claim anything out of the game and can really get at them with their problems in central defence.

Who is it a big game for?

Daily Echo:

Nathan Redmond

I feel as though it's a big game for Nathan Redmond.

Although he's been playing well this season, in 15 games he hasn’t managed a single goal or assist, which is worrying when you consider that he's missed just 18 minutes of league action this season.

He needs to start showing some end product, otherwise he's likely to find himself out of the side because it's goals which is what's going to keep Saints up this season.

He has a strong partnership with Ryan Bertrand both on and off the pitch and so if the pair can play together again down the left this weekend, then that could be key in helping Redmond get back to form.

This is a real chance for him to unlock his potential and show his quality in front of the TV cameras against Arsenal.

If you want to take part in this feature, contact dan.sheldon@dailyecho.co.uk