Southampton boss Tonda Eckert believes that his side are able to “hurt” Premier League leaders Arsenal when they visit St Mary’s on Saturday for their FA Cup quarter-final tie.<\/p>\n
Saints made their way past Doncaster, Leicester City and Fulham before drawing the Gunners at home for their toughest challenge in the competition so far.<\/p>\n
Southampton are celebrating the 50th anniversary of their FA Cup win in 1976, and could make a memorable cup run even more special if they are able to get past Mikel Arteta’s side and book a place at Wembley on Saturday. <\/p>\n
“The reality is that we go into a game to win and we’ve always done that, for me there is no other way that exists,” Eckert told BBC Radio Solent. <\/p>\n
“As a great team, I think rightfully every single manager in press conferences praises what Arsenal do and I can only continue that praise.<\/p>\n
“They are a fantastic team with many answers to problems that you give them, so the preparation was fun this week because it’s just many iterations of what you could potentially do and then you see that they do have answers to many possible solutions.<\/p>\n
“But I think we found a couple of bits where we are able to hurt them and then we just need to make sure we bring that on the pitch.”<\/p>\n
In the last round Southampton managed to beat Fulham at Craven Cottage thanks to a late Ross Stewart penalty after a gritty and committed performance in the capital. <\/p>\n
Saints are on a 14 game unbeaten run across all competitions and face an Arsenal side who have only lost four games all season. <\/p>\n
After this game Southampton have some big Championship fixtures as they look to break back into the league’s top six. <\/p>\n
With the final international break of the season done, they travel to Wrexham on Tuesday to kick off the run-in and then six league matches remain after that.<\/p>\n
“We’ve come up to a block now where the pressure is going to be on us and we need to embrace that,” Eckert added.<\/p>\n
“I think we’ve put us in a situation where we can thrive off the pressure that comes with it, and then it’s up to us to deliver.<\/p>\n
“All of the pressure is on us and it needs to be, I think if you want to win a game of football the pressure is always on you and it’s for us to take that as it comes and make sure that we play a good game.”<\/p>\n