Ralph Hasenhuttl will lead Saints out at St Mary’s on Sunday for the first time since agreeing to become their manager.
Arsenal will arrive on the south coast in a buoyant mood after going unbeaten in their last 21 matches.
Unai Emery replaced Arsene Wenger in the summer and has settled into life at the Gunners remarkably quickly.
But given Saints’ result last weekend, Hasenhuttl could really do with coming away from the game with a point at the very least.
It’s far too early in the season to say Saints have to win this game, but it certainly feels like they can’t afford to lose it.
After the setback at Cardiff, the Huddersfield match is more crucial than it already was.
Hasenhuttl won’t let his side throw this match away, but if they are to lose one of the next two, then it must be against Arsenal.
Saints' Premier League record against Arsenal:
P38 W6 D11 L21
Arsenal's Premier League form:
P16 W10 D4 L2
Who has been Arsenal's key player this season?
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang
It’s hard to look past Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang right now.
The Gabonese international has been on fire since the start of the season, scoring 10 goals, which sees him level with Liverpool’s Mo Salah at the top of the charts.
After a slow start to life at the Emirates Stadium, Aubameyang is now flourishing under the system Emery deploys.
And given Saints’ recent defensive record, his pace and eye for a goal is likely to cause all sorts of problems for Hasenhuttl to solve.
A closer look at the Arsenal manager:
Unai Emery
When Wenger left Arsenal at the end of last season, there was a concern that because he had been at the club so long, it would be difficult for another manager to come in.
However, Emery has dispelled that myth.
The former PSG boss had a shaky start to his tenure at the north London side, but bounced back in startling fashion by guiding his team to 21 games without defeat.
He made a name for himself during his spell in charge of Spanish side Sevilla, where he won three Europa League titles in a row.
Emery’s success in La Liga, earned him a move to French giants Paris Saint Germain.
The 47-year-old was tasked with winning the Champions League with a side that included Neymar, Edinson Cavani, Angel Di Maria, Thiago Silva and Kylian Mbappe.
He was unable to achieve the club’s target and was replaced by Thomas Tuchel in the summer.
This led to him taking over at Arsenal, and after losing his first two games to Man City and Chelsea, the Gunners haven’t lost since.
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