Arsenal vs Southampton Match Preview and Prediction
Emirates Stadium will play host to Sunday’s Round 7 EPL game between Arsenal and Southampton with Arsenal heading into the game as favourites with the bookmakers.
Arsenal vs Southampton Preview
Not to oversimplify this match preview or anything but this one simply boils down to how ruthless Arsenal are going to be on the day.
With a few players nursing some knocks after a brutal September we might see a few changes to the team with the likes of Gabriel Jesus and Raheem Sterling in contention to start, but the approach should still be the same.
The Saints won’t put up too much of a fight either, with one point thus far and 12 goals conceded.
Quite a lot has changed from the side that took points off Arsenal in both meetings during the 2022-23 campaign and none of it is for the better.
Photo:Getty
Arsenal welcome a familiar face back to the Emirates Stadium on Saturday as Aaron Ramsdale returns with Southampton.
The goalkeeper left the club over the summer in a deal worth up to £25million, a year after signing a new contract and then almost immediately losing his starting sport to David Raya.
It will prove another daunting task for Ramsdale and his Saints side, who remain winless after six games, as the Gunners look to keep pace with Premier League table-toppers Liverpool, who face Crystal Palace in the earlier kick-off.
The last time these two teams met in the league, they shared a 1-1 draw and a 3-3 draw, as the Gunners fell short in the title race. Mikel Arteta will know further dropped points will prove costly once again.
Arsenal vs Southampton team news
Both Ben White and Jurrien Timber are in contention to feature, despite recent injury scares. White missed the wins over Leicester and PSG entirely while Timber was replaced at half-time against the French giants.
Arteta has confirmed that the pair are “close” to being ready to feature against Southampton, as is Takehiro Tomiyasu as he pushes to make his first appearance of the season.
Mikel Merino returned from injury against PSG to make his long-awaited debut, and is in the frame to get his first Premier League minutes under his belt against Saints. Oleksandr Zinchenko could return after the international break, but Martin Odegaard is not yet close to being in first-team contention.
It’s as case of as you were for Southampton, with Gavin Bazunu, Kamaldeen Sulemana, Jack Stephens and William Smallbone no closer to returns. As mentioned, Aaron Ramsdale will be facing his former club for the first time.
Arsenal vs Southampton prediction
Mikel Arteta will be well aware of the damaging results against Southampton in the previous two times these two teams met, but this Saints side do not appear to pose the same threat as the squad of two seasons ago despite being relegated.
More importantly, this Arsenal squad also looks far stronger than the team battling for the title in April 2023, so should have little problems recording another win this weekend.
The wobble against Leicester will be a concern, but the return of Mikel Merino to fitness is a boost in the midfield.
Arsenal to win, 3-0.
Credit:EveningStandard