Arsenal vs Southampton – English Premier League – Preview

Posted on February 2, 2016 by Sreya

Arsenal host Southampton at the Emirates as the battle for the English Premier League title heats up with the top four teams separated by just four points. The third placed Arsenal will take on the eighth placed Southampton on Tuesday, 2nd January in an evening fixture.

Arsenal have secured forty four points till now with thirteen wins, while Ronald Koeman’s side are on thirty three points, having won four fewer matches. While Arsenal are winless in their last three matches, convoluted by the demoralizing 2-0 defeat at the hands of Chelsea, Southampton have won three consecutive matches to stall their fall from grace.

Team News

Jack Wilshere, Tomas Rosicky and Santi Cazorla are still sidelined with injuries for Arsenal while Danny Welbeck is yet to regain match fitness. Francis Coquelin returned to the squad against Burnley in the FA Cup and is expected to start this crucial match.

Southampton will be without Steven Davis, Florin Gardos and Jay Rodriguez while Maarten Stekelenburg and Graziano Pelle remain doubts. Charlie Austin, who came off the substitute’s bench to score the winner against Manchester United in their last league fixture, might start tonight.

Arsenal Possible Starting Lineup: Petr Cech, Hector Bellerin, Per Mertesacker, Laurent Koscielny, Nacho Monreal, Francis Coquelin, Aaron Ramsey, Joel Campbell, Mesut Ozil, Alexis Sanchez, Olivier Giroud.

Southampton Possible Starting Lineup: Fraser Forster, Cedric Soares, Jose Fonte, Virgil van Dijk, Ryan Bertrand, Victor Wanyama, Jordi Clasie, Dusan Tadic, Sadio Mane, Matt Targett, Charlie Austin.

Contributor’s Pick

According to Head-2-Head statistics, the last six encounters between these two sides have resulted in three wins for the Saints, one draw and only two wins for the Gunners. Statistically, the Gunners have won 48% of their matches against Southampton till date and lost only 24%.

The Boxing Day encounter earlier this season ended in a 4-0 home win for Ronald Koeman’s side. However, at the Emirates, Arsenal are undefeated against Southampton in ten of the last eleven matches in all competitions.

Although Southampton have kept a clean sheet in their previous three Premier League fixtures, a 1-1 draw is the most probable result of this match, with both sides sharing a point.

“They gave us a tough time, a rough time as well at Southampton and we have an opportunity at home to put that right. It’s a very important period in the season now because it goes into big big games, 15 games to go, every game now becomes really important.”

– Arsene Wenger, Arsenal.