When the fixture list comes out in the summer, ‘Saints home’, or even ‘Saints away’ for that matter is definitely not one fixture which managers of the traditional ‘top 4’ or now the ‘top 5-6’ would fixate on. They would probably look at it and assure themselves of maximum points, at least in those two games.

It’s only logical – why would the likes of Manchester United or even Chelsea tremble at the prospect of facing a club which is clearly in the lower rungs of the league than the league challengers. But again, this is football. It just does not work that way, particularly in the English game.

If Manchester United and Liverpool have the history and Manchester City and Chelsea have the money, Saints are endowed with something themselves, which on the day, can dwarf everything in its wake. It’s their weapon called ‘Offday’ of course!

So now, what is ‘Offday’? It’s something which we don’t usually expect, something which makes news at the expense of the unfortunate victim. It’s rather complacency. It’s a voodoo of sorts which has empowered the Saints in recent years, and which has infected the big guns of England.

Now when Liverpool and Manchester United warmed up prior to their game against Southampton this season, they did not know that the ‘Offday’ would bite them too. They fell against their lower opponents, which of course made news. This notorious bug has also bit Chelsea and City last season, who fell to this sly little disease.

Arsenal, the pace setters so far, prepare for the visit of Saints this afternoon. It’s clearly not the highlight of the game week, but it definitely is potentially the headline maker. The big guns have fallen already, will the Gunners be next in line? Their form shows that they will come through, braving this much highlighted ‘Offday’ phenomenon and emerging with the 3 points.

Their only complacency was exposed on the season opening day against Aston Villa. Arsene Wenger has tuned his team very well since then. It will have to be a very strong voodoo to fall the mighty and rampant Gunners. But again, this is football… You never know until the referee blows the final whistle.