Calum Chambers says Arsenal are ready for Southampton test

Defender Calum Chambers is relishing his Boxing Day return to St Mary's and has warned former side Southampton that Arsenal will pose a sterner threat than the side that lost 2-0 there last season.

Southampton punished two errors from goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny as they brushed the Gunners aside on New Year's Day, leaving Arsenal 13 points behind eventual champions Chelsea after just 20 games.

But Arsene Wenger's side head into the Boxing Day game on the back of four successive wins and Chambers, who left the Saints for Arsenal in July 2014, is convinced their team spirit will help them get a better result this time round.  

"I'm really looking forward to it. It's always nice to go back there and see everyone," Chambers told Arsenal's official website.

"I've got a lot of memories at the stadium and at the club so it's always a game I look forward to when it comes around.

"We've improved our character in the team [since last season]. We had good character then but right now the spirit in the team is really strong."

Alexis Sanchez, Santi Cazorla, Francis Coquelin, Mikel Arteta, Jack Wilshere, Tomas Rosicky and Danny Welbeck are all ruled out for the festive fixtures with injury.

But Chambers is certain Arsenal, who play three games in eight days, can cope with the injury crisis.

"Although we've been unfortunate with a few injuries, we've come together, we're fighting, we're adapting to it and we're really starting to show the character we've got in this team," he said.

"It's hard when there are a lot of games coming thick and fast. Obviously Christmas is the busiest time of the year.

"We've all just got to adapt and prepare well for each game, take every game one at a time and just try to get the results we need."