Everton scored an injury-time goal to pick up all three points vs Arsenal on Monday and this loss means the Gunners have slipped to the seventh spot on the league table.
In terms of points, there’s not much difference so if Arsenal can beat Southampton in their next Premier League clash then the Gunners will be within touching distance of the top four once again.
Mikel Arteta had managed to steady the ship in the previous few months but they have lost thrice in their last four outings so the Gunners will not be going into this match as the clear favourites. Thankfully for them, the Saints are in even poorer form, failing to win even a single game in the previous four matchweeks so Arsenal should be able to squeeze out a victory on Saturday.
Arsenal have failed to win their last two home league meetings with Southampton and the manager also has a few injury concerns going into this match. And while we are placing our money on the North London side picking up all three points but it’s really hard to predict which Arsenal team will show up – the one from the start of the season or the one which had been in such fine form in the past two odd months.
Arsenal team news vs Southampton:
Bernd Leno is out injured but this won’t be a problem for Mikel Arteta since Aaron Ramsdale is now officially the No 1 at the club.
Gabriel and Ben White have also cemented their place as the first-choice centre-backs but the left-back role is going to be an issue for the Arsenal boss.
Arteta still cannot seem to decide if Tierney or Tavares should play in that role. This is a dilemma that the manager needs to sort out asap but since the former provided an assist on Monday, he should likely hold onto his place this weekend as well.
Granit Xhaka looked really poor in central midfield in that 2-1 loss(rating of 6.7/10) and it won’t be a surprise if the boss brings Lokonga back into that role alongside Thomas Partey.
🚨⚽️ | NEW: Club captain Aubameyang
has liked Ronaldo’s Instagram picture celebrating Manchester United’s win over Arsenal pic.twitter.com/hr2aiI8ZyR— Football For All (@FootballlForAll) December 3, 2021
Emile Smith Rowe is out with a knock and if Arteta’s words are to go by then the youngster will only return sometime next week.
Earlier this week Arteta had said: “He was with pain and could not train or travel. We will see how he is. It was a tight groin. Should be okay for next week I think.”
The absence of ESR is good news for Aubameyang since otherwise the Gabon international would have been warming the benches once again. Aubameyang has been in really poor form(which is why he was dropped for the Everton game) but if Smith Rowe is not playing then he gets a chance to start up front as Lacazette moves to the left flank.
Odegaard scored against Everton and he will hold onto his place as the No 10 while Bukayo Saka operates on the right-hand side.
Gabriel Martinelli seems to have picked up a hamstring injury during the Everton game so he too will miss out.
Arsenal predicted line up vs Southampton:
Predicted Line up(4-2-3-1): Ramsdale; Ben White, Gabriel, Tierney, Tomiyasu; Xhaka/Lokonga, Thomas Partey; Saka, Odegaard, Lacazette; Aubameyang.
