Southampton v Arsenal: Saints to go down swinging | OneFootball

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Southampton v ArsenalSaturday 04 April, 20:00Live on BBC and TNT Sports

Southampton on the charge after sleepy start

While Southampton's summer appointment of former Lens and Reims boss Will Still looked attractive on paper, it proved to be a disappointment for all parties. The flame-haired Belgian-English coach lasted just five months and 13 Championship games before his contract was terminated.

Still's replacement Tonda Eckert has been far more successful, racking up 51 points from 26 league games, and losing just five times in that sequence. Saints are right back in the mix for promotion, sixth in the Championship with seven games to go. The 33-year-old had a decent reputation as a youth and assistant coach, but taking the top job for the first time had proved to be a roaring success.

Eckert has roundly rejected the notion that this game is a free hit, a fun diversion from the pressure of the promotion hunt. He wants his players to feel the pressure of pushing for the win against arguably the strongest team in English football.

Saints certainly have the form to suggest they can give Arsenal a few things to think about. Their last 14 competitive games have yielded 11 wins and three draws, and their last defeat was at home to Hull City in mid-January. They have won 10 of their last 14 at St. Mary's, including six wins in the last seven.

Defender Jack Stephens is a doubt after picking up a knock in training, while Brazilian schemer Leo Scienza continues to struggle with a groin injury. Kuryu Matsuki and Flynn Downes are both suspended.

Arsenal must quickly recover from Wembley failure

While Arsenal's hopes of a quadruple were never iron-clad, it was a still a blow to have them dashed by their closest domestic challengers Manchester City. The Gunners lost the League Cup final 2-0 after a tame display, as Nico O'Reilly scored twice. Mikel Arteta's decision to field cup keeper Kepa ahead of the excellent David Raya proved costly, as Kepa made a hideous error which led to the first goal.

Arteta cannot allow that failure to infect the entire campaign. Arsenal have this FA Cup quarter-final to look forward to, and they then travel to the formidable Jose Alvalade stadium to face a dangerous Sporting team in the last eight of the Champions League. In the race for the Premier League title, Arsenal have a nine-point lead over City, although Pep Guardiola's men have a game in hand.

Arsenal remain one of the best defensive teams in Europe. Their tally of 22 Premier League goals conceded is the best in the division by a distance, and in all competitions they have racked up a staggering 25 clean sheets.

Bukayo Saka, Noni Madueke and Eberechi Eze are all believed to be carrying knocks, so 16-year-old sensation Max Dowman could start. Martin Odegaard is carrying a knee injury, and it remains to be seen how a draining international break will affect Arteta's selections here.

English FA Cup: Southampton v Arsenal (Match Odds)

Saturday 4 April, 8.00pm

Gunners to progress after a scare

Arsenal are a prohibitive 1/4 to win in 90 minutes and 1/10 to qualify, but we can get a nice boost to 15/8 by backing Arsenal to win and BTTS. That combination has paid out 14 times in all competitions for Arsenal this term, including in FA Cup wins over Portsmouth and Mansfield. Arsenal have managed just three clean sheets in their last 12 away games, while Southampton have scored in their last 16 competitive matches.

Arsenal's forgotten man to get into trouble

Myles Lewis-Skelly was on the crest of a wave going into this season, but the summer acquisition of Piero Hincapie by Arsenal has pushed the 19-year-old into third place in the Gunners' left-back depth chart. His hopes of playing for England at the World Cup appear to have totally evaporated, not least because he has started just 12 games and played less than 1500 minutes.

It's therefore imperative that Lewis-Skelly seizes the opportunity when he does play, and interestingly he has been booked in both of his starts in the FA Cup this season against Portsmouth and Wigan. Despite his lack of minutes, Lewis-Skelly has managed to pick up six cautions this season, and he is a player that relishes the physical side of the game.

At 4/1, I think it's worth backing Lewis-Skelly to be shown a card, but keep an eye on team news.

If you want to combine a Lewis-Skelly card, an Arsenal win and BTTS, it's 12/1 on the Bet Builder, and it'as worth remebering that the Bet £10 Get £10 offer is still available on accas and Bet Builders.