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Saints At Arsenal The Preview

Saints have to beat one of the top six if they want to stay up, this game is as good as any to start the great escape.

Hopefully Mark Hughes will have realised the errors of last weeks defeat at West Ham, he hoped to try and blitz the Hammers and catch them in disarray, instead he found them up for it and his team had the wrong formation and wrong personnel to deal with the Hammers onslaught.

Saints fans have been crying out for two up front, but last week was not the time and place and nor is a trip to the Emirates for as Arsenal side who at home at least are usually rock solid.

I would reinstate Yoshida in the back four in place of Jack Stephens, I would keep a solid central three of Lemina, Romeu and Hojbjerg with James Ward Prowse on the right and Redmond on the left and I would play either Carrillo or Long up front.

A solid workmanlike starting XI to try and keep the game tight and still with something to be gained in the final third when we can introduce the likes of Gabbiadini and Austin if we need to score goals or Davis if we need to shore up the shop.

What we do need though is an air of positivity in the team and the supporters, if we are to stay up and there is no reason why we shouldn't, then we need to restore the pride on the pitch and in the stands, we need to stop the slagging off of individual players from kick off let alone when we have gone a goal down and present a solid front.

Personally I want us to stay up and I know that slagging off a player verbally will not help his game, there are many players I dont think are always the right choice, but I voice my opinions on here and in the pub, not at the player himself when he is out there trying to win us a game.

This is a tough game, anything we get out of it is a bonus, it is time for everyone to step up to the plate, time to stop the squabling, time to leave the moaning till after the end of the season and time for everyone to pull together.

No happy clapping, just the knowledge that if you want to achieve things in life then it is easier with a positive attitude and energy surrounding you.

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