Arsenal have been the favourites to win the Premier League for most of the season but after two consecutive draws, the title race has been thrown wide open with the Gunners now running the risk of losing the top spot.
Arsenal are just four points ahead of Manchester City but City have played one game less which means the North London side cannot afford to drop any more points. Next up, they will face Southampton, a game they should win easily.
The Saints are currently at the bottom of the table and they have won just six games this whole season. This one should be a regulation win for the Gunners but then again, they were supposed to beat West Ham United as well.
From here onwards, Mikel Arteta’s men will have to treat every game like a final because they still have to face Manchester City. That game will most probably determine the champions of this season which is why Arsenal cannot drop points in any other game.
Arsenal’s team news and injuries:
Zinchenko suffered a thigh problem at Anfield which kept him out of the Hammers game but the full-back should be fit in time to face the Saints.
The manager had said last week: ‘He had a muscular issue at the end of the match at Anfield last week, and he struggled in the last few minutes.’
However, William Saliba is taking longer than expected to be fit from his back injury and according to the latest rumours, the full-back will take a few more weeks to become fully fit.
Rob Holding will do fine this Friday but Saliba’s absence is a big headache because next week, the Gunners will take on Manchester City.
Southampton are not the strongest of sides which is why Arteta will be tempted to rotate his starting line up on Friday and if our prediction is true then Jorginho could come into midfield and even Trossard can get a start.
Arsenal take on City just five days after the Southampton tie so resting important players will be a very important strategy. Mikel Arteta is working with a very small squad so one or two injury setbacks and their title push will be completely derailed.
Arsenal predicted line up vs Southampton:
Predicted Starting Line up(4-3-3): Ramsdale; Zinchenko, Rob Holding, Gabriel, Ben White; Odegaard, Thomas Partey/Jorginho, Xhaka; Bukayo Saka, Jesus/Trossard, Martinelli.
