Arsenal will be bidding to move seven points clear at the top of the Premier League table when they welcome basement side Southampton to the Emirates Stadium on Friday night
Arsenal are four points above Manchester City at the top of the table. Arsenal earned a point in their last Premier League match, drawing 2-2 at London Stadium against West Ham United, extending their unbeaten streak to nine (W7 D2 L0).
Southampton slumped 2-0 against Crystal Palace at St. Mary’s Stadium in their last league match, extending their winless streak to six (W0 D2 L4), putting them in 20th place on 23 points, four points from safety with seven matches to play.
The previous Premier League fixture between the teams saw them play out a 1-1 draw at St. Mary’s Stadium in October. Granit Xhaka scored the lone goal for the Gunners in the 11th minute. Stuart Armstrong scored for Saints in the 65th minute.
Gabriel Martinelli, Bukayo Saka, and Martin Ødegaard have made a difference in crucial moments for Arsenal this season. Martinelli is their top scorer with 14 goals, followed by Saka with 12 and Ødegaard with 11.
Visitors Southampton have been led by James Ward-Prowse and Ché Adams, who have netted seven and five times, respectively.
Hosts Arsenal have been tough to beat on home soil this season with 12 wins, two draws, and just one loss in 15 Premier League contests.
The Gunners have a four-match home winning streak dating to March 1 against Everton. Southampton have played on their travels 15 times in the league this season, earning 13 points from 45 available (W4 D1 L10).
Saints are on a three-match away winless streak (W0 D1 L2). They haven’t earned a win away since February 18 against Chelsea.
In their last six league matches, Arsenal have won four and drawn two. Southampton, meanwhile, have drawn two and lost four in their last six.
Arsenal will again be without the services of Mohamed Elneny and Takehiro Tomiyasu on Friday due to injuries, while William Saliba is likely to remain on the sidelines with a back complaint.
There is no clear return date for Saliba at this stage, but the Frenchman is set to miss out once again against the Saints, with Rob Holding continuing in the middle of the defence.
Oleksandr Zinchenko could return from a muscular problem, though, with the Ukraine international expected to replace Kieran Tierney in the starting side on Friday night.
There are not expected to be any surprises when it comes to the spots in midfield or the final third of the field, with Gabriel Martinelli and Bukayo Saka supporting Gabriel Jesus in attack.
As for Southampton, Ainsley Maitland-Niles is not eligible against his parent club, while Juan Larios, Valentino Livramento, Mislav Orsic and Mohammed Salisu remain unavailable through injury.
Che Adams could return from a calf issue, but the Scotland international is unlikely to start, with Paul Onuachu potentially being introduced in the final third of the field.
Moussa Djenepo could also come in for a starting role in a wide area, with Theo Walcott potentially dropping down to the bench against his former club, while Romain Perraud is likely to take the spot of Maitland-Niles.
Arsenal possible starting lineup:
Ramsdale; White, Holding, Gabriel, Zinchenko; Xhaka, Thomas, Odegaard; Martinelli, Jesus, Saka
Southampton possible starting lineup:
Bazunu; Perraud, Bednarek, Bella-Kotchap, Walker-Peters; Djenepo, Ward-Prowse, Lavia, Sulemana; Alcaraz, Onuachu
