IT’S RISK & REWARD FOR SAINTS

JAMES WARD-PROWSE says Southampton are ready to take more risks in the FA Cup because they are safe in the Premier League.

Ralph Hasenhuttl’s team can climb above Aston Villa and Chelsea into eighth place with a second victory over Arsenal in four days at St Mary’s tomorrow.

But, unlike Mikel Arteta, the Austrian head coach sent out his strongest side in the FA Cup to set up a fifth-round visit to Wolves. “We take every competition seriously and this is a great opportunity to progress in the cup,” said England midfielder Ward-prowse.

“In recent years we’ve always been in a difficult position in the league and that’s taken a lot of focus. But, with that being good right now, I think we can afford to look to the cup a little bit more and take more risks.

“We believe in the way we play against any opponent. It doesn’t matter what line-up they put out, whether it’s a League Two team, League One, Championship, Premier League, we believe in what we’re doing. As long as we apply ourselves right we can beat any team.”

Ward-prowse was part of Claude Puel’s team which lost 3-2 to Manchester United in the Carabao Cup final in February 2017.

And the Saints skipper (above) said: “The FA Cup is such a special competition. To be able to lift the trophy would be a dream come true. I had a bit of a taste of it with the Carabao Cup final, losing out on that one. To get back to Wembley and do that would be for sure a career highlight and a dream come true.”