Last updated on 20 April 2023. From the section Premier League, TEAM NEWS Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta is uncertain whether Oleksandr Zinchenko, who is nursing a groin issue, will be available for Friday’s match. Takehiro Tomiyasu and Mohamed Elneny are long-term absentees. Southampton’s Ainsley Maitland-Niles is ineligible against his parent club but Mislav Orsic is back in contention after overcoming a hip problem. Che Adams, Mohammed Salisu and Juan Larios are still injured, while this game may come too soon for Tino Livramento. Victory for Arsenal would take them seven points clear of Manchester City having played two games more. City face Sheffield United in the FA Cup semi-finals on Saturday, before hosting Arsenal on Wednesday. CHRIS SUTTON’S PREDICTION Arsenal will still be stinging after letting a two-goal lead slip in their draw with West Ham last weekend. It is that sort of result that makes the doubts creep in when you are a player. I remember when I won the title with Blackburn in 1995, we lost 3-2 at home to Manchester City in April, in a game where we led twice. We were a quite a young team, like Arsenal are now, and it hurt us. We got over the line in the end, but the City defeat was probably the first time we began to feel nervous. That’s what might be happening at Arsenal now. Their players will have felt sick going into the dressing room at London Stadium at full-time last Sunday and dropping points like that is a very different feeling to when you draw after trailing 2-0. Arsenal go to Etihad Stadium on Wednesday so this is an absolutely must-win game for them to get back on track. It would be unthinkable for them to drop points against the bottom side – if they do, I think the title has definitely gone. It’s must-win for Southampton, too, and their situation means they cannot be happy with a point whoever they are playing. Prediction: 2-0 Sutton’s full predictions v Enter Shikari bassist Chris Batten MATCH FACTS Head-to-head Arsenal are unbeaten in 27 top-flight home matches against Southampton (W19, D8), one shy of their longest run against a particular opponent (ongoing versus Fulham since 1949). Saints have won just two of 45 league fixtures away to the Gunners (D15, L28), victories at Highbury in 1968 and 1987. Arsenal The Gunners have won 11 of their past 12 home league games versus teams starting the day bottom of the table, only dropping points in a goalless draw against Burnley in January 2022. Mikel Arteta’s side are vying to win a fifth consecutive top-flight home match. Their only league defeat at the Emirates Stadium this season was February’s 3-1 loss to Manchester City. Gabriel Martinelli’s total of 14 Premier League goals is one short of the record by a Brazilian in a season, set by Liverpool’s Roberto Firmino in 2017-18. Ben White and Oleksandr Zinchenko are both one shy of 100 Premier League appearances. Zinchenko would become the first Ukrainian to reach the milestone. Southampton Saints have only amassed three points from their 15 Premier League games this season versus teams currently in the top half of the table (D3, L12), though that includes a 1-1 draw with Arsenal in the reverse fixture. They have lost their six most recent top-flight matches away to sides starting the day top of the table, with their last such victory coming at Liverpool in September 2013. Saints are winless in six league games (D2, L4) and have failed to keep a clean sheet in each of the previous five. Theo Walcott can become the first player to make 150 Premier League appearances at the Emirates Stadium, the majority while playing for Arsenal between 2006 and 2018. James Ward-Prowse has nine goals in all competitions this season and is vying to reach double figures in consecutive campaigns, having netted 11 last term.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta is uncertain whether Oleksandr Zinchenko, who is nursing a groin issue, will be available for Friday’s match against Southampton. Takehiro Tomiyasu and Mohamed Elneny are long-term absentees while Ainsley Maitland-Niles is ineligible against his parent club but Mislav Orsic is back in contention after overcoming a hip problem. Che Adams, Mohammed Salisu and Juan Larios are still injured, while this game may come too soon for Tino Livramento. Victory for Arsenal would take them seven points clear of Manchester City having played two games more.
Chris Sutton believes that it would be unthinkable for Arsenal to drop points against Southampton and if they do, he thinks that the title has definitely gone. He also believes that it is must-win for Southampton too, as their situation means they cannot be happy with a point whoever they are playing. His prediction for the match is 2-0.
Head-to-head, Arsenal are unbeaten in 27 top-flight home matches against Southampton (W19, D8), one shy of their longest run against a particular opponent (ongoing versus Fulham since 1949). Saints have won just two of 45 league fixtures away to the Gunners (D15, L28), victories at Highbury in 1968 and 1987.
Arsenal have won 11 of their past 12 home league games versus teams starting the day bottom of the table, only dropping points in a goalless draw against Burnley in January 2022. Mikel Arteta’s side are vying to win a fifth consecutive top-flight home match. Their only league defeat at the Emirates Stadium this season was February’s 3-1 loss to Manchester City. Gabriel Martinelli’s total of 14 Premier League goals is one short of the record by a Brazilian in a season, set by Liverpool’s Roberto Firmino in 2017-18. Ben White and Oleksandr Zinchenko are both one shy of 100 Premier League appearances. Zinchenko would become the first Ukrainian to reach the milestone.
Southampton have only amassed three points from their 15 Premier League games this season versus teams currently in the top half of the table (D3, L12), though that includes a 1-1 draw with Arsenal in the reverse fixture. They have lost their six most recent top-flight matches away to sides starting the day top of the table, with their last such victory coming at Liverpool in September 2013. Saints are winless in six league games (D2, L4) and have failed to keep a clean sheet in each of the previous five. Theo Walcott can become the first player to make 150 Premier League appearances at the Emirates Stadium, the majority while playing for Arsenal between 2006 and 2018. James Ward-Prowse has nine goals in all competitions this season and is vying to reach double figures in consecutive campaigns, having netted 11 last term.
Predict Arsenal’s starting XI for their next fixture – remember you can change the formation!
Formation: 4-3-3
Confirm team: Bernd Leno; Hector Bellerin, Rob Holding, Gabriel Magalhaes, Kieran Tierney; Thomas Partey, Granit Xhaka; Bukayo Saka, Emile Smith Rowe, Nicolas Pepe; Pierre Emerick Aubameyang