Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger believes Southampton deserve to be considered as genuine top four contenders in the Premier League as they aim to qualify for the Champions League.
After a summer in which they sold over 100 million pounds worth of talent, Ronald Koeman's third-placed Saints have been the surprise of the season so far after a sparkling start to the campaign, although their momentum was halted by a 3-0 home defeat at the hands of reigning champions Manchester City on Sunday.
Despite that setback, Wenger believes the side remodelled by Koeman following his arrival at Southampton last July are capable of sustaining their position in the table, as they head into a key game at the Emirates Stadium on Wednesday.
"If you look at their number of points and the number of games they've played, you have to consider them," Wenger told a news conference when asked whether he viewed Southampton as top four challengers. "If they can maintain their run, yes. We'll know more about it in March.
"If you analyse their team, they have the stability defensively. In midfield, they have the same players to last year, so that should not be so surprising. The strikers they have bought have integrated very well into the system and have been very efficient. They are very efficient going forward as well.
"At Christmas last season, they were in a very strong position and the fact that they could renew that shows that they have stability in their performances. You have to consider the fact that they don't play in Europe; they can prepare well for every single game. That of course can be to their advantage.
"This is a big game, it is an important game for us. For us it is a game where we have an opportunity to show consistency in our results and we want of course to do that."
Wenger went on to applaud the understated approach Koeman has taken to his stint as Southampton boss, as the Dutch coach suggested his eagerness to slip under the media radar has worked in his favour when it came to signing players such as Dusan Tadic and Graziano Pelle.
"He came without making too much noise and did the job," reflected Wenger. "As well I think he got it right because he came from Holland and Tadic played in Holland, Pelle in Holland, [Sadio] Mane played in Austria so they were shrewd."
Wenger was also quizzed once again on the banner unveiled by some Arsenal fans following Saturday's 1-0 win over West Bromwich Albion calling for him to step down, as he insisted unity within his club remained strong.
"The most important thing is that internally we are very united," he added. "Our job is to be competitive and to fight and that is the way we can do our job, only by being united.
"We are creating something special inside the club, but that has to come out through performances and games won. Our job is to win football games and that is what we want to do. That is the best way to unite everybody.
"Before Christmas, what you want always to do is to make sure you are in the pot for the Champions League and that you fight at the top of the league. At the moment we have achieved the first target, but not the second one, so we have a battle in front of us to come back in there."