Arsenal will look to get their title charge back on track when they take on Southampton at the Emirates on Tuesday night.
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“It’s a big month for us”, added Wenger.
Southampton, though, are no pushover at the moment as they have won three successive league games without conceding one goal.
It should be different this time around.
The Saints are an intriguing [5.2] despite their dominant display in the previous meeting, the fact that they conquered Old Trafford in their last outing and are more rested having benefitted from ten days off since that result.
The Egyptian has yet to feature in the Premier League and Wenger told Arsenal’s official website: “I think he has to adapt to the power side of the game”.
And the Saints gaffer, who has beaten Wenger three times in his four meetings in England, said: “They will have a revenge feeling what happened on Boxing Day”. “The strength we show at home now in the remaining games can be decisive”.
But Wenger is wary of the challenge posed by Southampton, who have been inconsistent this season but still find themselves just four points behind fifth-place Manchester United.
Charlie Austin announced his entry into Premier League football with Southampton thanks to a textbook header than gave his side all three points against Manchester United.
“They have the pressure always to win”.
Without a goal since the Community Shield victory over Chelsea in August Oxlade-Chamberlain struggled in the 2-1 victory over Burnley on Saturday and has attracted growing criticism from supporters inside and outside the Emirates.
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One of the theories ventured was the availability of Fraser Forster and Cedric Soares after injuries, but they leave behind them a fair few colleagues on the treatment table, including Florin Gardos, Steven Davis, Jay Rodriguez and top goalscorer Graziano Pelle.
