Arsenal is brimming with confidence after the win over Man City, a far cry from the last time Arsene Wenger's men went to Southampton.
Arsene Wenger is keen for Arsenal to show how far the club has come since a New Year's Day nightmare when the team returns to Southampton.
Arsenal slumped to a dispiriting 2-0 loss at St Mary's on the first day of 2015 - a defeat that still rankles with the long-serving boss.
However, almost 12 months on as the club prepares for a Boxing Day assignment on the south coast, Arsenal has collected 78 points during the calendar year - 10 more than any other Premier League team - and is primed for a tilt at the title after Monday's stirring 2-1 win over Manchester City closed the side to within two points of Leicester City.