PETER CROUCH is the key to Saints shocking Arsenal on Saturday.

Harry Redknapp's relegation-haunted side have only taken two points from the three Premiership games they have played since beating Liverpool 2-0 a month ago.

But former Saints boss and Arsenal midfield star Alan Ball reckons they have the man to take full advantage of the Gunners' 3-1 midweek Champions League defeat at Bayern Munich at St Mary's - 6ft 8in Crouch, right.

Ball believes the absence of England ace Sol Campbell, who is suffering from an ankle injury, is a major boost as Saints chase a win that could take them out of the drop zone.

Ball said: "I don't think that Sol Campbell is the best with the ball at his feet but Kolo Toure looks lost without him alongside him.

"Campbell has a presence about him, he's a strong man and those types of players are missed.

"The first goal Arsenal conceded on Tuesday night was a shocking one to give away so early on, and Peter Crouch's height will be important if that defending is anything to go by.

"But Southampton can't afford to be one-dimensional, they'll have to play a bit as well and produce something like their Liverpool performance

"They are still hard to beat at home but the problem is that they're not winning enough.

"You know there's a problem when they come away from the club at the bottom of the table saying they are pleased with a point.

"In the overall picture, that was not a bad result but they had the chances to win and, by the same token, Arsenal will be pleased that they're playing Southampton, and not Manchester United, this weekend."

Saints have only won once in 11 Premiership games under Harry Redknapp and have just 20 points from 27 matches - but they are now playing better than they have done all season.

Ball, below, added: "Harry has options, he's got a stronger squad available but they've got to start to win games now and again.

"It's all very well looking good, which they are at the moment, but it's a shocking points total at this stage of the season.

"And they'll need to play very well and hope that Arsenal aren't up for it on Saturday."

Arsenal went the entire 2003/04 season unbeaten in the Premiership but Arsene Wenger's men have looked a shadow of that side this term.

They have only kept 11 clean sheets in 40 competitive matches -compared to Chelsea's 29 in 41 games and Manchester United's 25 in 45.

Even Tottenham, a side not renowned for their defensive ability, have kept 12 clean sheets.

And statistics also show that Campbell, sent off during Arsenal's 3-2 loss at St Mary's in November 2002, is a key member of the side.

Arsenal have conceded 18 goals in the 19 matches he has played this season, but have conceded 27 in the 21 he has missed.

l Jose Antonio Reyes was today set to learn his fate on a violent conduct charge as Arsenal risked another setback.

Reyes faces the prospect of joining Dennis Bergkamp on the sidelines for the next three games as a result of the disciplinary hearing into his alleged slapping of Andy Liddell in the FA Cup tie against Sheffield United last Saturday.

Bergkamp has lost his appeal for wrongful dismissal after being sent off in Arsenal's tie against The Blades.

As a result, his automatic three-match ban will start with immediate effect - ruling him out of this weekend's game against Saints, as well as next week's cup replay and a home league match against Portsmouth.

Reyes could be ruled out of the same three games, which would leave Arsene Wenger with Thierry Henry and Robin van Persie as his frontline strikers.