Southampton boss Mauricio Pellegrino backs under fire goalkeeper Fraser Forster ahead of Arsenal showdown

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Mauricio Pellegrino has thrown his support behind Southampton goalkeeper Fraser Forster to prove Gareth Southgate wrong by shining against Arsenal on Sunday.

Forster hasn't kept a clean sheet in his last six Premier League outings in a run dating back to October and has found himself under intense pressure to rediscover his form after being dropped from recent England squads.

The 6ft 7inch former Celtic stopper looked to have done just that during last weekend's 1-1 draw with Bournemouth after making a string of superb saves.

Fraser Forster is under fire after failing to keep a clean sheet in his last six Premier League ties

Manager Pellegrino said: 'We have to realise that football changes every single week.

'Sometimes you are viewed as the best and sometimes everybody is punishing you because you made a couple of mistakes.

'And even more so when you are a goalkeeper because they are always alone and they have to defend themselves in this type of situation.

'You have to have personality to keep going and when you make mistakes and say, 'yes, I made a mistake' and then when you keep going, you will be stronger in the future.'

In Arsenal's last Premier League match against Manchester United the Gunners forced David de Gea to make a record number 14 saves, despite losing 3-1.

But Southampton boss Mauricio Pellegrino backs his stopper and insists he will keep the faith

After putting six past BATE Borisov in Thursday night's Europa League match Arsene Wenger's men will be hungry for more of the same at St Mary's.

But continuing his glowing endorsement of Forster, Pellegrino added: 'He is doing a lot of things.

'He is working hard physically and working hard mentally to be prepared, not just on, but also off the pitch.'