Southampton vs West Ham United - Wenger bust-up won't affect our relationship - 7M sport

Southampton vs West Ham United - Wenger bust-up won't affect our relationship



Posted Saturday, February 06, 2016 by PA

Ronald Koeman has drawn a line under his midweek tunnel bust-up with Arsene Wenger.

The Southampton boss and Arsenal chief Wenger exchanged words following the goalless draw at Emirates Stadium on Tuesday night.

Wenger had reportedly shouted at referee Lee Mason "It's always the same with you" with Koeman responding to the Frenchman: "No, it's always the same with you."

Koeman confirmed the incident had taken place as it was reported, but insisted it was all in the heat of the moment and that it would not affect his relationship with Wenger.

"What was written in the press was true, and that's all," said Koeman. "It's emotions in football and it happened, and we go on.

"Do I regret it? If I talk it's what I mean, of course. No, I don't think (it will affect our relationship).

"It's always a little bit of emotions and he was very disappointed about the result because they had some good chances."

Koeman was named manager of the month for January following Saints' recent fine run.

They emerged from a recent sticky patch to collect three wins, without conceding a goal, before the stalemate against the Gunners.

Next up is a tea-time visit from a West Ham side lying one place, but five points, above Southampton in sixth spot.

"We hope to get more consistency, because that's one of our ambitions that we had at the start of the season, to have a more regular season," added Koeman.

"It's the Premier League and it's so difficult to get a good run, and to change it if you are in a bad run.

"We know what we have to do. The confidence is totally back in the team after the last few results.

"We have a big game against West Ham because it's still a gap between West Ham and Southampton, and we'd like to make that distance shorter than it is now."

Koeman is set to hand January signing Charlie Austin his home debut. The striker scored the winner on his first Saints appearance as a substitute at Manchester United last weekend, but missed out at Arsenal with a knock.

Left-back Matt Targett is out with an ankle problem and midfielder Steven Davis remains a doubt due to a hamstring injury.

Meanwhile, Slaven Bilic admits Southampton have got a bargain in Austin.

West Ham were among a host of clubs interested in signing the striker in the summer but were put off by QPR's B£15million asking price.

Upton Park boss Bilic instead spent his transfer kitty on the likes of Dimitri Payet, Manuel Lanzini and Michail Antonio, while Saints snapped up Austin for a cut-price B£4million last month.

The 26-year-old made an immediate impact on his debut at Old Trafford and could make his first start at St Mary's against the Hammers.

"He's a great player," said Bilic. "He has proved himself - he's not one of those who has only done it in the Championship. He did it last year in the Premier League, scoring many goals for a team who were relegated, so for that money he should be a great buy.

"To add to that he scored the winner at Old Trafford in his first game, so it's a flying start for him. It was a bit of a surprise that he went for that kind of money. In England that is a small transfer.

"He would definitely be a player with quality enough to play for West Ham, and for most teams in the Premier League.

"But we had different targets, we have really good strikers and we were looking for different type of players. That is the reason (we didn't try to buy him), not his quality."

While West Ham need to keep an eye on Austin at one end, they also have to find a way past Fraser Forster at the other.

The goalkeeper has yet to concede since returning from a long-term injury last month, keeping four clean sheets as Saints racked up three wins and a goalless draw at Arsenal on Tuesday night.

"He's flying," added Bilic. "Since he came back after injury they didn't concede a goal, so you can only imagine how confident he is, and how confident the defence and the whole team is.

"It's a difficult time to play them, and a challenge for us, but we have answered all our challenges really well so far.

"We have respect for them and the way they are playing, but also we are very confident."

Bilic can welcome back Andy Carroll to his squad after a hamstring injury while fellow striker Emmanuel Emenike is available following his loan switch from Fenerbahce.



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