Here are 12 things you should know about Arsenal and Southampton prior to kick-off tomorrow afternoon at The Emirates:
1. Arsenal got their season up and running with a 2-0 victory away to Liverpool, with both goals coming from new summer additions Lukas Podolski and Santi Cazorla.
2. Cazorla has been at the heart of everything good about Arsenal in their opening matches. He’s completed an impressive 133 passes so far in his domestic career according to the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index. He also topped the charts for distance covered with 6.27 miles against Liverpool.
3. His compatriot Mikel Arteta continues to showcase his value to Arsenal in the middle of the park. He’s put in more miles than any other Gunner so far this season with 18.62 miles according to the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index.
4. With his prolific goal-scoring record for club and country, it came as no surprise for Podolski to open his account for Arsenal against Liverpool. It was surely only a matter of time after he recorded Arsenal’s highest speed at Anfield at 20.93mph.
5. Kieran Gibbs continues to show he is stepping up to the plate at the back. The EA SPORTS Player Performance Index ranks him as being successful with 85% of his 13 tackles this season.
6. His fellow full-back Carl Jenkinson, although often criticised, has been similarly consistent in his defensive duties. He’s given away only one foul from 17 challenges to complement a 76% tackle success rate.
7. Southampton were desperately unlucky not to take anything away from their last game against Manchester United. Two goals from Ricky Lambert and Morgan Schneiderlin were not enough to cancel out a remarkable hat-trick from former Gunner Robin van Persie.
8. The Saints are clearly prepared to work hard to retain their place in the Premier League on their return to the top-flight. They’ve ran further than any other team this season with 195.18 miles covered, 10 miles further than their nearest rival according to the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index
9. James Ward-Prowse epitomised this level of effort as he covered the most ground for Southampton against Man Utd with 6.96 miles.
10. it’s unsurprising that Schneiderlin managed to grab a goal against Utd after he clocked a top speed 20.61mph.
11. Schneiderlin also leads the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index on multiple fronts for total distance covered. Not only has he ran further than any other player with 21.53 miles, he’s also recorded the largest distance covered in a single match so far with 7.31 miles in Southampton’s season-opener against Manchester City.
12. Adam Lallana has certainly been willing to try his luck in front of goal for Southampton. He ranks 9th on the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index for total shots with 10, but has yet to score. Only Tottenham’s Gareth Bale has had more attempts for no return with 11.
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