EPL: Gunners tackle Saints

Arsenal vs. Southampton
Venue: Emirates Stadium
Kick off: 4PM

With the pressure weighing heavier on Mikel Arteta’s shoulders, Arsenal aim to return to winning ways during today lunchtime’s Premier League clash with Southampton at the Emirates.

The Gunners fell to a 2-1 defeat to Everton in midweek, while Ralph Hasenhuttl’s side were forced to settle for a point against Brighton & Hove Albion.

The “soft underbelly” of Arsenal was once again exposed at Goodison Park, where an Everton side previously on one of their worst Premier League runs since the turn of the millennium claimed a deserved three points over the woeful Gunners.

A first half devoid of any real attacking quality ended 1-0 to the Gunners thanks to Martin Odegaard’s strike on the stroke of the whistle, but Richarlison – who had two goals ruled out on the day – and Demarai Gray turned the game on its head as Arsenal once again failed to hold on to a slender lead.

There was an air of controversy surrounding an unpunished stamp by Ben Godfrey in the face of Takehiro Tomiyasu, but on an evening where Eddie Nketiah and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang both wasted gilt-edged chances to tie the game, Arsenal got what they deserved – nothing.

A pair of defeats since the start of the month has seen the North London outfit slip to seventh in the Premier League table – four points off the top four – but thankfully for the home crowd this weekend, most of their torrid fortunes have come on the road.

Indeed, Arsenal have won seven of their last eight home games in all tournaments at the Emirates – including each of their last three in the Premier League – and these are the fixtures where the Gunners have typically excelled this season.

Talk about a heart-breaking way to throw away all three points – Southampton’s South Coast battle with Brighton was heading in the right direction when Armando Broja put the Saints ahead, but the Seagulls swooped to steal a draw just before the 100th minute of the contest.

Jakub Moder reacted quickly following a blocked free kick to pick out Neal Maupay in the box, and the wind-up merchant fired home to extend Southampton’s winless run and lead them to just look over their shoulder with a little more apprehension.

The Saints have now drawn two and lost two of their last four in the top flight ahead of their trip to the Emirates and occupy 16th place in the standings as a result – just six points above 18th-placed Burnley having played a game more.

While Arsenal have consistently produced the goods at home this term, Southampton have failed to perform on the road time and time again, losing 14 of their 18 Premier League away games since the turn of the year – not since 2004 have they lost more (15) in a calendar year.

However, Southampton managed to hold Arsenal to a 1-1 draw in North London this time last year prior to ending the defence of their FA Cup crown, but the Gunners prevailed 3-1 at St Mary’s in the most recent meeting and have never lost at home to the Saints in the Premier League.

Arsenal possible XI: Ramsdale, Tomiyasu, White, Gabriel, Tierney, Xhaka, Partey, Saka, Odegaard, Smith Rowe, Martinelli.

Southampton possible XI: Caballero, Livramento, Lyanco, Stephens, Walker-Peters, Redmond, Diallo, Ward-Prowse, Elyounoussi, A. Armstrong, Broja.