[ad_pod ]

Southampton manager Ralph Hasenhuttl confirmed in his Arsenal pre-match press conference on Friday that strikers Shane Long and Danny Ings are back in contention following injury lay-offs, as he looks to pick up his first points since he took charge 10 days ago.

What’s the word, then?

Well, Saints welcome the Gunners to St Mary’s on Sunday looking to pick up their first Premier League victory since September 1, with their poor form leaving them in 19th position heading into the weekend’s top-flight fixtures.

One of their biggest issues this term – as shown by the fact that they failed to find the net or create many chances against fellow strugglers Cardiff City last Saturday – has been a lack of goals, and they have only scored 13 times in their 16 league games to date.

Long, who is yet to find the net during the current campaign, has been absent since the beginning of November after having a small operation on his ankle, while Ings suffered a hamstring injury during the 1-1 draw with Watford last month.

Bad news for Gabbiadini

The Italian attacker started on the substitutes’ bench for Hasenhuttl’s first match in charge with Charlie Austin preferred up front against the Bluebirds, but following another disappointing display from the former QPR man the 27-year-old would have fancied his chances of getting the nod against the Gunners if Long, Ings and Michael Obafemi were all still absent.

However, it now seems as though the former duo can be selected against Unai Emery’s side and there is no doubt that both players are more suited to the style that the Austrian manager wants over Gabbiadini, given they have the pace and mobility to press from the front.

Just as the striker looked to get his big chance, he looks set to be cast aside again with just a couple of weeks until the January transfer window opens.