da bwin： Southampton travel to the Emirates Stadium to face Arsenal in the quarter-finals of the EFL Cup tonight.
da blaze casino： The Saints will be hoping to reach the last four of the competition as they look to win the League Cup for the first time in their history.
Claude Puel’s men bounced back from a run of disappointing results by beating Ronald Koeman’s Everton side 1-0 on the Dutchman’s return to St Mary’s on Sunday, with 19-year-old debutant Josh Sims impressing and setting up Charlie Austin for the decisive goal as the south coast outfit moved back into the top half of the table.
The Frenchman has rotated his squad on numerous occasions between the Premier League, Europa League and EFL Cup this term and he could make more changes when his side travel to north London to face Arsene Wenger’s side.
Here is FootballFanCast’s Saints XI to beat Arsenal and reach the semi-finals of the EFL Cup…
GK: Fraser Forster
The Saints’ number two Alex McCarthy played in the previous rounds of the EFL Cup but as he is injured, Forster should step in between the sticks at the Emirates Stadium.
The England international has come under criticism from some supporters in recent weeks for some of the goals he has conceded, but he has also made saves that have gained the club points, including a brilliant performance in a 0-0 draw at Arsenal in the Premier League back in February.
RB: Cedric Soares
The Portugal international has only recently returned from injury, but he put in arguably his best performance in a Saints shirt against Everton on Sunday and if Puel wants a full-back that can defend as well as offer a threat going forward, he should name Cedric in his starting XI again.
Cuco Martina is his competition at right-back but the Curacao captain has been less than impressive in his showings in recent weeks and supporters will want a more defensively sound player against Arsenal.
CB: Jose Fonte
While he hasn’t played a minute of Southampton’s Europa League campaign, Fonte has been present in both of their EFL Cup matches this season and the Saints skipper should start again at the Emirates.
With Virgil van Dijk likely to be rested, Puel will need that quality and experience in the centre-back position and the Portugal international certainly provides it, while he could have an aerial battle with Olivier Giroud if the Frenchman is fit enough to start.
CB: Maya Yoshida
While his minutes in the Premier League have been limited this term, Yoshida has been a regular in the side in the cup competitions and he should come in for Van Dijk.
The Japanese defender appears to have come on leaps and bounds under the leadership of Puel this season and knows the importance of his performances in the cup competitions as the Saints look to advance as far as they can in the EFL Cup and Europa League.
LB: Sam McQueen
While Ryan Bertrand may be first-choice at left-back and Saints supporters feel he should be the one to start in a quarter-final tie, McQueen could well get the nod at the Emirates.
The Southampton youth product proved his quality in the first team when Bertrand and Matt Targett were absent through injury and his mature and composed performances mean that Puel will have no problem with blooding him again against Arsenal, where he can do a job at both ends of the pitch.
DM: Oriol Romeu
The Spaniard has been one of the Saints’ best players this season, and while he was rested from the starting XI for the disappointing defeat to Sparta Prague in the Europa League last week, Puel might not make the same mistake in this cup tie.
The Frenchman has struggled to find an alternative player that performs as well as Romeu at the base of the diamond and he needs his best individual in that position against what could be an attacking Gunners side.
CM: Jordy Clasie
While Steven Davis, James Ward-Prowse and Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg have often been preferred in the midfield positions in the Premier League this season, Clasie has generally appeared in the cups and it should be the case again when Puel rotates his team, especially with the latter two names putting in all-action displays against Everton.
The team know that they can’t just rely on the goals of Charlie Austin and the Netherlands international will be looking to provide a goal threat at the Emirates.
CM: Steven Davis
The Northern Ireland captain missed the win against Everton at the weekend because of illness but if he is feeling better then he should be back in the starting XI against Arsenal.
The 31-year-old was also named on the bench for the trip to Sparta Prague last week and with Puel’s rotation, he is due a start and his experience could be vital to helping his club progress to the semi-finals of the EFL Cup.
AM: Josh Sims
The 19-year-old was quite outstanding on his Premier League debut against Everton on Sunday, setting up Charlie Austin for the winning goal just 43 seconds into his top-flight bow.
The Saints have looked short of creativity and energy going forward in recent weeks and after providing both of those things against the Toffees, Puel could choose to once again name the youth product in his starting XI at the Emirates as the club look to reach the last four of the competition.
ST: Charlie Austin
The Saints’ main marksman was back in the starting XI against Everton on Sunday after being named on the substitutes’ bench for the trip to Sparta Prague, and he scored just 43 seconds in after being set up by Josh Sims.
The striker has netted nine goals in all competition this term – including one against Crystal Palace in the third round of the EFL Cup – and he must start to provide the side with a goal threat at the Emirates.
ST: Shane Long
With Nathan Redmond struggling for form in recent weeks and Long being named on the substitutes’ bench against Everton on Sunday, the Republic of Ireland international should be in the starting XI against Arsenal.
Alongside a goalscorer in Austin, Long has the pace and nuisance factor to cause the Gunners’ defence a number of problems and that could be key in a match where the Saints might find themselves playing on the counter attack at times.