'Not about one no. 9' - Southampton boss Selles on if he's going to start Onuachu v Arsenal

Southampton manager Ruben Selles was on media duties on Thursday before his side's Premier League meeting with Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium in London and one of the questions he was asked was whether he was going to name Paul Onuachu in the starting lineup.

The Spanish football tactician has opted against giving the Premier League rookie regular game time since his appointment as coach, with the striker's last start coming against Leeds United on February 25.

Onuachu joined Southampton on a three-and-a-half-year deal for a transfer fee of 18 million euros and if bonuses are included, the fee could rise to 21 million euros.

The Nigeria international scored goals for fun during his time with Racing Genk in Belgium, but has yet to hit the ground running since his switch to the St Mary's Stadium, with zero goals in eight appearances in the top flight. 

Selles has made it clear that he won't change his tactics just to accommodate some players and also revealed how he plans to approach the game against the Premier League table toppers. 

In quotes relayed by the Daily Echo, the Spaniard stated : "I don't make my line-up or tactics to do with what anyone else thinks.

"We need to be competitive in the game until we can score the goal. It is not about one number nine, this is a different challenge for all of us so the solution is not to put one, two or three strikers on, it's about putting people in situations.

"We are going to try and press them and win the balls high as possible to win the game. If we play our game we have options to win the game."

Onuachu mustered 164 career goals in 328 appearances combined for previous clubs FC Midtjylland, Racing Genk and Vejle Boldklub.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel 

Photo Credit : southamptonfc.com 

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