Arsenal will be visiting Southampton with the hope of getting at least a point against a team that is currently on a good run.
Southampton in their last outing pummeled Norwich City 3-0 at Carrow Road to move further away from the relegation fight.
They will be hosting an Arsenal team that is finding it hard to get confidence and win out games. The Gunners remained stuck of 40 points after two losses from two games, Southampton can level on points with Mikel Arteta’s men with a win and moved further away from the table.
Currently 10th on the log, Arsenal has found wins hard to come by as they are have also fallen from the top four position and now been described at team below average in the league.
In order to at least contest for the Europa League places next season, the Gunners will be desperate for three points. Although in terms of quality, Arsenal are a slightly better team than the Saints, their undoing has been lack of cutting edge.
Arsenal poor away form worrying
Southampton on the other hand, can capitalise on Arsenal’s poor away form this season with their much improved play. This has put the Saints as the favorite and are underpriced in this matchup. With just two away wins this season for the Gunners – a 1-0 win at Newcastle on opening day and a 3-1 win at West Ham in December, there away form is quickly summarised. Arsenal had also recorded eight draws and five defeats away from home this season, which put their poor form at 0.93 points per match.
Statistically, Arsenal is below average this season. Interms of goals scored this season, Arsenal have plus 0 goal difference as well.
Likely starting line up for Arsenal VS Southampton
With goalkeeper Bernd Leno out of action for the rest of the season after a knee, Emilio Martinez is expected to be within the sticks. Sokratis is also on the verge of returning at center back, alongside defensive midfielder Granit Xhaka, who may start the match from the bench.
Gabriel Martinelli is out of action after sustaining an injury during Monday training.
For Southampton, Shane Long will be available for selection after missing the Saints’ win at Norwich through a muscle complaint. The Irish may start alongside Danny Ings as usual, while Moussa Djenepo will be serving out his suspension after being redcarded in March against Newcastle.
Southampton provisional squad: McCarthy, Gunn, Lewis, Walker-Peters, Valery, Vestergaard, Stephens, Bednarek, Danso, Bertrand, Vokins, Romeu, Ward-Prowse, Armstrong, Hojbjerg, Smallbone, Boufal, Redmond, Tella, Long, Ings, Adams, Obafemi.
Arsenal provisional squad: Martinez, Macey, Bellerin, Sokratis, Holding, Mustafi, Kolasinac, Tierney, Xhaka, Guendouzi, Ceballos, Maitland-Niles, Willock, Ozil, Nelson, Pepe, Aubameyang, Lacazette, Nketiah.
Form the available squad; Arsenal may continue with the 4-4-2 formation like this: Martinez; Bellerin, Mustafi, Holding, Tierney; Ceballos, Willock, Pepe, Saka; Nketiah, Aubameyang
The likes of Macey, Bola, Kolasinac, Guendouzi, Maitland-Niles, Medley, Ozil, Nelson, and Lacazette expected to be on the bench.
