With so many of his Arsenal squad injured and others unable to get there due to no public transport, Saints fans should bring their boots to the game on Boxing Day.
Back in the Second World War when football was played on Xmas Day and Boxing Day with teams being of a transient nature due to many professional footballers being in the military it was not uncommon for teams to turn up for an away fixture only to find that they did not have 11 men.
An appeal would often be made to the crowd and their side would be made up with a home supporter or two, now that Xmas wartime spirit is set to return to St Mary's with Arsene Wenger struggling to raise a team with 7 of his top stars out injured for the visit to St Mary's.
Alexis Sanchez, Jack Wilshere, Mikel Arteta , Francis Coquelin, Danny Welbeck, Santi Cazorla and Tomas Rosicky are all missing for the trip to St Mary's
That has brought his squad down to the bare bones and the Arsenal boss is likely to have to appeal to the crowd for volunteers to make up the numbers.
Speaking before the game Wenger said
" It is true, I am down to ze bones of the bare, I am not aware of how this has happened, I did not see any of these injuries, so I like General De Gaulle before me will appeal on behalf of the people of Le France, sorry Le Arsenal to the people of Southampton to bale me out as happened back in World War 2. Viva La Entende Cordiale and sorry for inflicting Charles Anznavour on you"
Those Saints fans interested should bring their boots and shinpads and be in the stadium 30 minutes before kick off when after counting his squad Wenger will see how many he needs to make up the numbers.
Those supporters should also not be signed for another Premier league team, or indeed any side above Conference level, if the game was not televised Wenger might have taken a risk and played a ringer, but as its on TV and say Gareth Bale was in the crowd it would have been easily spotted and Arsenal would have been docked the points and heavily fined for the offence, although it being Arsenal it would probably be reduced down to just a warning not to do it again on appeal.