92% pass accuracy: The beauty behind Arsenal’s midfield beast Mathieu Flamini

Mathieu Flamini stats

Southampton are a side in full swing right now, sitting third in the Premier League after 11 games. Mauricio Pochettino has fine-tuned the Saints into a well organised, compact unit who have proved incredibly tough to break down this season and Nicola Cortese is reaping the rewards of relieving Nigel Adkins of his managerial duties last season.

The Hampshire club are the most stringent outfit in the English topflight so far this term conceding just five goals, and they have also bossed the majority of sides that they have faced, but this weekend they go up against the masters of possession play – Arsenal.

Premier League Goals Conceded 2013/14

The Gunners are sitting pretty at the top of the Premier League having won eight of their opening 11 games, and it’s likely to be the battle in the middle of the park that will decide the result of the clash between the two sides.

Southampton have proved that they can cut it against the big boys already this season, dominating Manchester United at Old Trafford after picking apart Liverpool in front of their own fans and returning south with the three points. The reason for their success away from home is their ability to hold onto the ball, wearing teams down before pouncing into a counter attack.

Southampton Possession 2013/14

The man who has the job of preventing that from happening at The Emirates is Mathieu Flamini, who is having a solid season himself after returning to the club on a free transfer in the summer.

The Frenchman has sat in front of the Gunners back four on eight occasions in the league this season and has shrewdly picked apart whatever is put in front of him. He is not blessed with pace or natural athleticism, but the way he throws himself in front of potential danger and frustrates opponents is brilliant to watch.

He may have only completed 6/17 of his tackles but he holds the ability to harass the opposition and squeeze them out of possession, much like the man he will be facing up against on Saturday, Morgan Schneiderlin.

Both inject composure into their respective sides with their passing completion and the way they recycle the ball is key to how their employers operate.

Flamini Pass Accuracy 2013/14

The vast majority of the chances that Southampton have created this season have come from the central positions and Flamini’s performance will be pivotal on the result. Southampton have actually averaged more possession than Arsene Wenger’s men so far this season and the 29-year-old will be expected to get in amongst it and disrupt their fluidity.

They way Southampton zip the ball around the pitch, however, may necessitate the legs of a more mobile outlet next to him, as he’s not the most agile player, but Aaron Ramsey has proved on several occasions how effective he can be in that role.

Arsenal will have to up their energy levels and roll their sleeves up if they are to bounce back after their narrow defeat to Manchester United before the international break, and Flamini will be at the heart of that, but if there was a good time for Southampton to play the Gunners then it would probably be this weekend.