Hasenhuttl: Saints still not Gunner be favourite

RALPH HASENHUTTL is refusing to be seduced into believing his side are favourites against Arsenal because of the London club’s poor recent run. Southampton go to the Emirates tonight with the Gunners 15th and on a run of four straight home defeats in the Premier League. The sequence is their worst in 61 years and has left boss Mikel Arteta under huge pressure.

But Hasenhuttl (above), whose Saints are fourth in the table, said: “You can never take a stat to tell you how easy or difficult it will get. “You never feel even if you are above them in the table that we are something like the favourites in this game. No.

“They have a good side. Also they play a fantastic game with the ball. What’s missing in the last few games is the scoring.

“So we have to be on the highest level of our game. We lost the last game against them 2-0. We know how tough it is against Arteta and Arsenal and we must be very careful.”

Arsenal’s total of 13 points from 12 matches represents their worst start to a top-flight season since 1974. They have gone 12 hours, 26 minutes without a league goal from open play.

But Hasenhuttl’s side worked hard for a 2-2 draw at the Emirates in 2019 and the Saints manager is under no illusions as to the size of the task.

He added: “I don’t give so much on stats you know. It doesn’t have anything to do with the game on Wednesday. We have a new team. They have a new team and a new manager.

“We are concentrating on a very tough game against a strong side with good players.”

ARSENAL: