adminSOUTHAMPTON. – Arsene Wenger says Arsenal travel to a confident Southampton in the FA Cup fourth round tonight determined to avenge their League Cup exit.
The match kicks-off at 7:30pm.
Claude Puel’s underdogs won 2-0 at the Emirates Stadium in November in the League Cup and on Wednesday clinched their place in that competition’s final by beating Liverpool.
Arsenal lifted the FA Cup in 2014 and 2015 and Wenger is keen for a Wembley return, meaning he will resist the temptation to make wholesale changes.
Theo Walcott returns to the Arsenal squad following injury, as do Per Mertesacker and Mathieu Debuchy, but Granit Xhaka is suspended.
“Southampton produced a fantastic performance at Liverpool so overall that makes the game even more interesting and more difficult as well,” Wenger said.
“They are not short of confidence at the moment and will certainly have a big support, but it’s an FA Cup game and we want to qualify.
“We’ll put out a team with first-team experience. Maybe there will be one or two younger players, but no more.” – AFP.
Online Reporter
Peter Tanyanyiwa