Southampton boss Ronald Koeman has played down the significance of today's clash with Arsenal.

Saints host Arsenal on the south coast in Premier League action on New Year's Day, with goal difference currently keeping Koeman's men in fourth above Arsene Wenger's fifth-placed side.

Koeman said lying above Arsenal in the table at the turn of the year "means nothing" in Saints' outside bid for Champions League qualification.

"For me it's not an obsession," said Koeman of the challenge for a top-four finish.

"I look more to how we play, and if we play in a system, develop the team organisation, then we will be in the first seven, eight teams in the league, because of those qualities we have, and we have shown them.

"But it's not an obsession, because I don't like to watch the table every weekend; it means nothing.

"Okay if it's before the last weekend of the season it's different.

"But it's only half the season.

"Tomorrow we have a difficult game and many more ahead.

"We have to keep doing what we are doing, and that's most important, game by game."