Last season’s runner-up had beaten Watford in fine fashion before the worldwide break, and manager Wenger handed debuts to Shkodran Mustafi and Lucas Perez.
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Wenger handed a full debut to Perez against Southampton on Saturday, but the new signing struggled as the club’s lone striker.
Arsenal’s meeting with Southampton on Saturday marks the start of important run of six games in 18 days as Arsene Wenger’s side play catch-up in the Premier League. “I know well the owners [of PSG] but I feel always I am loyal to Arsenal football club”. However, they have both gotten their first taste and will no doubt hope to do much better.
Southampton remains without a win four games into the season and new manager Claude Puel is frustrated that his team has conceded three penalties.
When asked about the performances of Arsenal’s latest additions, Wenger felt the pace of the EPL may have shocked the imports from Spain’s La Liga.
Koscielny’s injury may be another concern for Arsenal, who already have Per Mertesacker and Gabriel Paulista sidelined and travel to Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League on Tuesday.
But Southampton players are still upbeat and treating the Arsenal game as a good test, midfielder Steven Davis said.
“In the second half, I think he combined much better”, Wenger added.
“You do not find many players today who go behind the defenders at every opportunity”.
“If you don’t concentrate for 90 minutes, you lose points”, he said.
The Gunners goalkeeper scored an unfortunate own goal to put Saints ahead in their Premier League clash at the Emirates Stadium before Arsenal captain and birthday boy Laurent Koscielny levelled with an acrobatic overhead kick.
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“All the squad will be a victor if we keep good results, good possibilities with a different team”.
