It’s a first outing of the season in the Premier League cup for Southampton’s B team, who travel to Arsenal on Thursday night.
THE MATCH
Arsenal vs Saints
Premier League Cup, Group A
Meadow Park
Thursday 2nd September, 7pm BST
For spectator information see below
After a year away from the competition due to the pandemic, Premier League Cup action returns on Thursday.
Saints will be hoping a break from Premier League 2 routine for cup action comes with a change in recent fortunes, after one draw and two defeats from their opening league games.
After a shock opening day 6-1 defeat at West Ham, Arsenal have responded well in Division One with two wins including a North London Derby victory on Friday.
Saints last outing in the competition came back in February of 2020, where they suffered a heavy 4-1 defeat at Stoke City during the final group game.
LAST MEETING
It’s only been six months since these two sides last met, in what was an entertaining score draw at Snows Stadium.
Arsenal took the lead on 11 minutes though Nikolaj Mollar before the visitors added a second just shy of the half hour mark via the dangerous Kido Taylor-Hart.
Saints bounced back, however, in the second half, Will Ferry curling an effort in from the left flank on 53 minutes before levelling the scores via the penalty spot eight minutes from time.
The draw meant that Saints were unbeaten against the Gunners during the 2020/21 season following opening day victory at London Colney training ground.
SPECTATOR INFORMATION
As with all Premier League Cup fixtures, spectators are permitted at Thursday night’s competition curtain raiser.
Entry to Meadow Park is free and supporters are asked to scan the NHS QR code on arrival or check in via the NHS app.
Parking is not available at the ground but is provided at Brook Road car park (WD6 5HJ).
Supporters are asked to enter via the East Stand, located in the main car park, and South Stand, located off of Brook Road, turnstiles.
MANAGER'S NOTES
"Arsenal will be a tough game," said B team head coach Dave Horseman. "They have some outstanding individuals and from the games we have watched of them seem to be pressing higher and quicker than when we played them last season.
"They have appointed a really good coach who I'm sure their players will want to impress. For us, we are playing well at the moment and have players who are making some big strides within the framework of our game plan.
"We must now produce in the big moments at both ends of the pitch. Tomorrow there will be some new names in the squad who have earned the right with the Under-18s, and hopefully can take their opportunity as they deserve it."
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