A 3-0 loss to Crystal Palace was followed up with a 2-1 defeat to Brighton at the Emirates Stadium at the weekend as Arsenal suffered one of their darkest weeks in the Premier League season. They've now lost their grip on the top four race as rivals Tottenham Hotspur took control with a 4-0 away victory at Aston Villa.
Saturday's clash against Southampton is therefore a must-win. The Saints come into it off the back of a 6-0 hammering to Chelsea themselves, meaning it's expected to be a cagey affair at St Mary's.
Nevertheless, despite being thoroughly complimentary about Mikel Arteta's side, Ralph Hasenhuttl has insisted that the Saints will try to show that they have the 'answers' to issue a direct response to that defeat and come out fighting against Arteta's set-up.
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As stated on the club's official website, the Austrian said: “We have to show on Saturday we have the answers, especially for how we want to defend," he said. "We have a strong opponent coming on the weekend and we want to show a different face.
“They have the same situation as we have now. They have lost twice and are trying to find answers. You see how tough it is, also for them. They have a different target, they want to come in the Champions League and have some injury problems now that they feel, I think, and still is a team that is also on the way up.
“They did a good job this season so far. A young team and as always with young teams, you see there are some ups and downs. For us it’s important to cause them some issues as if you don’t, then it’s easy for them to win games.”
Speaking earlier in the week, Hasenhuttl also demanded that the Saints' 6-0 defeat to Chelsea last weekend be a wake-up call for his side: "No, it doesn’t give confidence," he said. "It rings the alarm and this is what we need to see. It is no coincidence that the last clean sheet we had was against Norwich and this was a few weeks ago.
"We have to get back to a better way of defending, maybe if it is not in a high pressing way because we are not so convinced about this at the moment, it is on us, on me, to find the right decisions for this. And you can be sure that next week [against Arsenal] you will see a team defending better, this is for sure."
It's a huge game for Southampton but more so Arsenal, given the Gunners' league position. Anything but three points will be a major disappointment and unfortunately, a loss could realistically end their top four challenge.
