Famous pundit declares Southampton’s St. Mary’s atmosphere as one of the best

The die-hard Southampton masses hadn't been given a lot to cheer about in recent memory before this unbelievable season got underway.

Indeed, last season, as they grimly finished at the very bottom of the Premier League pile, the South Coast giants would only win one home game all season in top-flight action.

This has been some turnaround in fortunes; therefore, fast forwarding to the present, as Southampton's beloved home ground has now been transformed into a fortress, rather than a torturous prison.

Ten wins have now been picked up from 19 home clashes in the demanding Championship, with Tonda Eckert allowing the Saints to believe they can return to the Premier League, at the first time of asking.

The most memorable home victory of them all this season is definitely the dramatic 2-1 triumph in the FA Cup that occurred against Arsenal over the Easter Weekend, as St. Mary's turned into a cauldron of noise.

The unbelievable home atmosphere versus Arsenal

Many Southampton supporters would have headed into this showdown with the Premier League table toppers, just hoping their team wouldn't be turned over horrifically, like they so regularly were when relegation was depressingly sealed.

They didn't need to worry about their underdog side in the end, however, as the impassioned masses witnessed a famous 2-1 victory, on a sensational night under the lights on the South Coast.

The promotion chasers operated on the front foot from minute one of this Cup showdown, and it paid off, as a leggy Arsenal side couldn't handle the instinctive finishing ability of Ross Stewart, who beat Kepa for 1-0 in the first half.

The tie hung in the balance from that point on, as Viktor Gyokeres equalised for the Gunners, but the decibel levels were certainly raised at St. Mary's when Shea Charles added another superb strike to his Saints back catalogue, with the 85th-minute winner.

Southampton fans will be desperately hoping they can roar their treasured team over the line to more unforgettable victories, whem promotion is sealed, with one Premier League-focused pundit showering the home atmosphere with praise, when dissecting the Cup upset.

The famous pundit who loves the St Mary's atmosphere

The wider footballing world will now know how unstoppable the Southampton machine has been this season, off the back of this slim victory over Mikel Arteta's men.

They will also be aware of how loud the hardened Saints masses can be, having found the atmospheres in recent times in the Premier League to be dampened by torrid performances.

Micah Richards, who is a regular football pundit now, after a playing career that saw him line up for Manchester City and Fiorentina, would go out of his way to shout out the deafening atmosphere, when appearing on The Rest Is Football podcast.

When quizzed by Alan Shearer and Gary Lineker on his thoughts on the St. Mary's noise against a shellshocked Arsenal, he immediately endeared himself to Southampton fans everywhere by stating gleefully: "I keep saying this, but it was definitely one of the best atmospheres this season, without doubt. It was bouncing!"

For a pundit, who has covered Champions League games galore, to single out the atmosphere on the South Coast for being special, it really does speak volumes as to what Eckert has managed to cultivate in such a short space of time at the helm.

Just imagine the feel in the air if Southampton manage to clinch a dramatic promotion, with the Saints firmly back on the map again, after being seen as a Premier League misfit last season.