ARSENAL manager Unai Emery thinks Saints will improve quickly under Ralph Hasenhuttl.

Emery replaced Arsene Wenger in the summer and has guided the Gunners to 21 games without defeat.

And ahead of their trip to Saints tomorrow, the Spaniard admits he didn’t expect to see Hasenhuttl’s side struggling in the bottom three.

Emery said: “I’ve watched matches of Southampton and they have very good players with quality. It’s a surprise that they are in this position. 

“They’ve changed the coach, but they have the same players and will change things with the new coach. They will improve, I think. 

“We know Sunday is a very difficult match - they will play with their supporters and pushing a lot because they need to win for the three points. 

“For us it’s very important too - we want to prepare our quality, our performance, but knowing it’s a tough match.”

Saints’ chances of getting a win at St Mary’s have been boosted by Arsenal only having one fit central defender.

The Gunners will be without Konstantinos Mavropanos and Rob Holding after they both picked up an injury.

Shkodran Mustafi is also expected to miss the game due to an issue with his hamstring and Sokratis Papastathopoulos will be serving a suspension.

“We haven’t got Mustafi, Holding or Sokratis,” Emery added.

“But I believe in my players, in our players and I think we can use other players [as] centre backs.

“I have one idea in my mind, but we need to [work on Friday and Saturday] and to know how they will recover physically, for the possibility of playing Sunday. 

“I think every player is now ok to help us in the position we need.”

Emery’s side will be lifted by the return of both Aaron Ramsey and Mesut Ozil.
Ramsey missed their Europa League tie with Qarabag FK, but the German midfielder made his comeback in the 1-0 victory.

Ozil has been in the firing line this season and Emery has shown the German midfielder that he isn’t afraid to leave him out of the team or to hook him off at half time.

He added: “After his injury he [Ozil] came back with good work, today he gave the performance and I think he’s ok for Sunday.”