Saints must be space invaders against Auba
NEW Southampton boss Ralph Hasenhuttl is all too familiar with deadly Arsenal enal hitman Pierre-emerick Aubameyang.
Three times in Germany the former RB Leipzig coach was on the wrong rong end of a strike by then-borussia a
Dortmund star Aubameyang.
No wonder Hasenhuttl is hoping ping
Gunners counterpart Unai Emery ry might pull one of his selection surprises at St Mary’s today – and leave Aubameyang, who has 10 goals already this season, on the bench.
The Austrian (right) admitted: d: “I wouldn’t be disappointed about ut that! As everyone knows, Aubameyang ng doesn’t need a lot of chances to o score.
“When he has a lot of space, with his pace, it’s really hard to defend. We must work hard to close this space. ace. If we do, it will be a little harder for him.”
Aubameyang’s overall Premier er
League record for Arsenal is truly uly spectacular.
In 29 appearances, the club-record ecord £58million buy has been involved ed in 27 goals, rattling in 20 and creating g seven.
And Hasenhuttl believes the Gabon forward, 29 29, is improving under Spanish coach Em Emery.
He said: “This year, with a different shape in Arsenal’s f formation, it’s easier for him. He als also gets substituted more than the o others behind him. That helps him to perform even better.”
Howe However Hasenhuttl reckons it is unlike unlikely he will inspire a change in the fortunes fo of struggling Saints, witho without a home win this season, as swiftly sw as Emery at Arsenal, now unbeaten in 22.
“It wasn’t so quick for Em Emery because he had a whole summer to prepare his team for his way,” said th the 51-year-old, whose first ga game ended in a 1-0 defeat at Cardiff. “You work one week playing against the ball, one week on transition in front, one week transition going back, and o one week playing without the ball. It’s fantastic.
“But we have the busiest time of the season, an and a lot of hard fixtures.
“There’s no alternative at the moment. W We must learn, and learn from our m mistakes, to get better day
by day.”