It’s Auba and out for Ralph

NEW Southampton boss Ralph Hasenhuttl is all too familiar with deadly Arsenal hitman Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. Three times the ex-RB Leipzig coach (left) has been on the wrong end of a strike by the then-Borussia Dortmund star Aubameyang. No wonder Hasenhuttl is hoping Gunners counterpart Unai Emery will pull one of his selection surprises at St Mary’s today – and leave Aubameyang (above) who has 10 goals this season on the bench. The Austrian said: “I wouldn’t be disappointed. Aubameyang doesn’t need a lot of chances to score. “It’s really hard to defend against his pace. We must work to close down space. If we do, it will be harder for him.” Aubameyang’s Premier League record is truly spectacular. In 29 appearances, the club-record £58million buy has been involved in 27 goals, rattling in 20 and creating seven. And Hasenhuttl believes the Gabon forward, 29, is still improving under Emery.

He added: “With a different shape in Arsenal’s formation, it’s easier for him. “He also gets substituted more than the others. That helps him. ”

But Hasenhuttl warned it may take time to produce an Emery-style change of fortunes for struggling Saints who are without a home win this season. He said: “Emery had a whole summer to prepare his team for his way. “But we have the busiest time of the season and a lot of hard fixtures.”