Ralph Hasenhüttl expects a very different challenge from Arsenal on Sunday to the last time the teams met, but says his side will need to show many of the same qualities if they are to be successful against the Gunners once more.
Unai Emery's men were the opponents for Hasenhüttl's first home game in charge, as Saints produced a thrilling 3-2 victory in December.
It was not only notable for being a first win of the season at St Mary's for Southampton, but also because it ended an incredible 22-game unbeaten streak for Arsenal.
Yet, while the match was only two months ago, Hasenhüttl believes there is only so much Saints can take forward from it into this weekend's meeting at Emirates Stadium.
"I'm not a guy who wants to look back, also not to winning games, because now it is a different challenge, maybe a different team," he said.
"There was no natural centre-back for them in the first game, so we decided to come with the headers in the box. On Sunday it is a completely different challenge, so then you have to try to find a better plan to get something. It's not about looking back, it's about facing a new challenge."
ralph hasenhüttl
the few chances you get you have to be very merciless.
southampton manager
One thing Hasenhüttl has taken from it, though, is how clinical Saints will need to be in front of goal.
"I think we saw in the first game that this Arsenal team doesn't need a lot of chances to score," he said. "If you want to get something you have to have a perfect performance and for this you have to have a very focused team, and a team with a good balance between defending and transition forward, and the few chances you get you have to be very merciless.
"All these parts we showed in the first game, and we have to show it once again, otherwise it is not easy to get points there."
Share this: