Arsenal need a win in the worst way. They are winless in their last four Premier League matches, which has seen them fall eight points behind the top four. The Gunners need to turn their form around before it’s too late. Any points dropped at home could see the end of their top four ambitions for this season.
Southampton are desperate for any points they can get. They are three points off safety and have the worst goal difference in the league. They haven’t won since September 14th and haven’t got any points since October 19th. Every game they go without a point increases their chances of relegation, a devastating scenario that is looking more realistic by the week.
Team News
Arsenal will be without the services of Dani Ceballos and may be without Sead Kolasinac if he fails to pass his late fitness test, according to PremierInjuries.com. Unai Emery revealed that Granit Xhaka may come back into the squad after a month out.
Southampton have no injury concerns to worry about, according to PremierInjuries.com.
Key Players
Arsenal: Matteo Guendouzi
Guendouzi started the season like a house on fire, but the 20-year-old has taken a step back in the last few weeks. He has struggled to as influential in recent matches. It’s no surprise that his struggles have coincided with the teams. Arsenal generally have a lack of ball progression in their team. Bringing Mesut Ozil back into the fold helps address that issue, but losing Xhaka hurts. Guendouzi needs to get back to his best and fill the hole the absence of Xhaka leaves.
Southampton: Danny Ings
The Saints have struggled to score this season. They haven’t scored multiple goals in a match since August 24th. Ings has been their only reliable source of goals this season, leading the team with five. They’ll likely need to score multiple goals to win and Ings will likely need to be on form for that to happen.
Prediction
Arsenal have been a bad team for a while now, but they should be able to break their duck and beat Southampton. Their individual quality should be enough to get them through this, even if they may not be convincing while doing it.
Prediction: 2-1 Arsenal
