Russell Martin will be working hard to devise a strategy for his Southampton team to secure a positive result against Arsenal on Saturday.
Facing title contenders Arsenal at The Emirates is perhaps the last thing Southampton needs after their disappointing 3-1 loss to Bournemouth on Monday night.
Martin is aware that if his players replicate their performance against Bournemouth, they could be in for a challenging match against a relentless Arsenal squad.
With only one point in the Premier League, no clean sheets, and just three goals in six games, a favorable result seems unlikely. Southampton would likely pose a much greater threat if they had successfully completed a key transfer during the summer.
Southampton may regret not signing Liam Delap during the summer transfer window.
Bringing in a centre-forward was a key priority for Russell Martin this summer, particularly after Che Adams departed at the end of his contract.
Sekou Mara was also sold, prompting the club to sign Ben Brereton Diaz and Cameron Archer to bolster their attacking options and help maintain their Premier League status.
However, neither player has yet demonstrated the ability to deliver, as both are still searching for their first league goal, and neither started against Bournemouth in the last match. Instead, Martin opted to play without a recognized striker.
This decision reflects a concerning lack of confidence in his strikers, but things could have been different had they managed to secure Liam Delap’s transfer.
Southampton had reached an agreement with Manchester City for Delap worth up to £20 million, but the striker ultimately chose to join Ipswich Town.
Southampton target Delap showing his quality at Ipswich Town
Although a deal was agreed upon by both clubs, it was ultimately up to the player to decide, and Martin, along with the Southampton management, evidently failed to persuade the England Under-21 international to move to the south coast.
This could be a decision the club may regret, as Ipswich’s survival could hinge on the young striker’s goals.
While none of Southampton’s forwards have found the net in the league this season, Delap has scored three goals in his last four matches.
This includes a standout performance against Champions League contenders Aston Villa on Sunday, where he drew praise from Mark Schwarzer on BBC Radio 5 Live, who remarked, “Villa struggled with Liam Delap. He bullied them all game, and his run down the left side when he scored the second goal was excellent.”
A reliable goalscorer can be crucial for a struggling club’s Premier League survival. Ipswich have one in Delap, while the evidence suggests Southampton currently do not.
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