Arsenal will welcome Southampton to the Emirates this Saturday for the 16th game of the 2021/22 Premier League season.
Venue: Emirates Stadium
Key Statistics
Arsenal have won their last three home Premier League matches, including the last two without conceding.
The Gunners have conceded 22 goals in the PL this season. Only Man United and Aston Villa (both 24) have conceded more goals for teams currently in the top ten. Of the 22 goals conceded, just six have come at home.
Arsenal’s main attackers have been struggling in front of goal recently, but Martin Odegaard has scored in each of his last two Premier League appearances, netting against Man Utd and Everton (albeit both in defeats).
Southampton have been woeful on the road in 2021, losing 14 away league matches, their most in a single year since 2004 when they lost 15.
The Saints have taken just five points from their away games this season (W1, D2, L4).
They have scored just six games away from home and have conceded 14 times.
Head to head
Arsenal are unbeaten in their past five Premier League matches against Southampton, with three wins and two draws. Mikel Arteta’s side also have not lost against Southampton at home in the league since 1987 (a run of 26 matches).
Latest Performances in all competitions
Arsenal: L-L-W-L-W
Southampton: D-D-L-L-W
Arsenal
Arsenal will look to get back to winning ways when they welcome Southampton to North London this weekend.
The Gunners were beaten 2-1 by Everton in their last game despite taking the lead through Martin Odegaard. They were eventually undone by goals from Richarlison and Demarai Gray to hand them their second consecutive loss.
The hosts looked to have finally found their feet under Arteta this season, as they jumped from the relegation zone to move just outside the top four after going on a ten-game unbeaten run.
But the screw seems to have come off in recent times for the Gunners who have lost three of their last four games. They still remain just four points off West Ham in the final Champions League spot though and will be desperate to get this win and avoid dropping further back.
Meanwhile, Arteta’s record at home will be a source of encouragement for them as they have taken 16 points from the available 21 – only Tottenham have taken more points at home so far this season.
Possible Arsenal starting line-ups
Aaron Ramsdale, Takehiro Tomiyasu, Ben White, Gabriel, Kieran Tierney, Granit Xhaka, Thomas Partey, Martin Odegaard, Emile Smith-Rowe; Bukayo Saka, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang,
Injured: Gabriel Martinelli, Sead Kolasinac.
Doubtful: None
Suspended: None
Southampton
Struggling Southampton will look to pick up their first win in four games when they travel to North London.
After picking up two consecutive wins against Watford and Aston Villa in late October and early November, The Saints have failed to win the next four games, drawing their last two against Leicester and Brighton.
Ralph Hasenhuttl’s side currently sit in 16th, six points above the relegation zone. Although those six points can appear big, the visitors will know that the lead can be wiped out in a few games. And so, they will be desperate to get back to winning ways and avoid getting fully stuck in the relegation zone.
However, a poor run of form away from home makes it difficult to predict anything but a loss in this game.
Possible Southampton starting line-ups
Willy Caballero; Valentino Livramento, Lyanco, Jack Stephens, Kyle Walker-Peters; Nathan Redmond, Ibrahima Diallo, James Ward-Prowse, Mohamed Elyounoussi; Che Adams, Amando Broja.
Injured: Stuart Armstrong, Jan Bednarek, Fraser Forster and Alex McCarthy.
Doubtful: Theo Walcott
Suspended: Oriol Romeu and Mohamed Salisu.
Prediction
Arsenal 2-1 Southampton
