Southampton vs Arsenal – Preview, H2H, Line-ups, Prediction | EPL 2021-22

Thierry Henry of Arsenal
Thierry Henry of Arsenal

Southampton will welcome top-four chasing Arsenal to the Saint Mary’s Stadium this Saturday in another crucial PL match.

Venue: Saint Mary’s Stadium (Southampton)

Key Statistics

Southampton are winless in their last six games (one draw and five losses).

The hosts have conceded 6+ goals in a PL game on ten occasions. 

The Saints have lost their last three home games, which is as many as they lost across the 20 home league games prior.

Arsenal have kept three clean sheets in their last three games. 

They have lost just one of their last 12 head-to-head fixtures with their hosts, winning seven and drawing four in the period. 

Just two of Arsenal’s PL away games have been level at the break (HT: W8, D2, L4) – that’s a league-low.

Head to head

Both sides have met 45 times in the Premier League. In those 45 meetings, Arsenal have 25 wins and 13 draws while the Saints have just nine wins.  

Latest performances in all competitions

Southampton: L-D-L-L-L

Arsenal: L-L-W-L-W

Southampton

Southampton will look to end their miserable run of form when they welcome Arsenal to the South Coast on Saturday. 

The Saints endured a torrid run of games in March. After their win over West Ham in the FA Cup, Ralph Hasenhuttl’s men won none of their remaining four fixtures in the month, with four consecutive defeats.

They, however, opened their April account with a draw away to Leeds United but succumbed to a 6-0 thrashing at the hands of Chelsea last weekend. 

The Blues ran riot against the Saints with four of the six goals scored inside of the first half; a result which means that Ralph Hasenhuttl’s side are now winless in their last six games in the EPL.

The reverse fixture ended in a 3-0 for the Gunners and if the Saints are to improve on their 15th place finish last season, Southampton will have to start getting positive results.

Ralph Hasenhuttl will expect the loss to Chelsea to serve as a wake-up call to his boys and will hope they give a firm response. With the recent struggles of Mikel Arteta’s side, the Austrian coach will fancy his side’s chances of beating the Gunners and give the Saint Mary’s faithful something to cheer about after a long while.

Alex McCarthy and Evangelista Lynaco both missed the 0-6 defeat to Chelsea, and are still expected to remain sidelined for the visit of Mikel Arteta’s side. 

Possible Southampton starting line-up

Fraser Forster; Kyle Walker-Peters, Jan Bednarek, Mohammed Salisu, Romain Perraud; Ibrahima Diallo, James Ward-Prowse, Oriol Romeu, Mohamed Elyounoussi; Che Adams.

Injured: Alex McCarthy, Lyanco  

Doubtful: Shane Long

Suspended: None 

Arsenal

Arsenal, on the other hand, have struggled in recent times, losing three of their last four Premier League fixtures – a run of results that has also seen them score just twice as they have fallen behind local rivals Tottenham Hotspur in the top-four race. 

Mikel Arteta’s side faces a run of tough fixtures soon, playing Chelsea, Manchester United and West Ham United in successive games. But first, they have to take on the Saints, who will also be no pushovers despite struggling in recent weeks.

The Gunners are running the risk of seeing all their season’s efforts go down the drain if they don’t return to winning ways. 

Mikel Arteta’s side still hold a game in hand advantage over their top four competitors though, and the Spaniard will hope that his boys can make a statement of intent against the Saints as they approach the make or break part of the season.

Mikel Arteta will rue the loss of first-team players because of injury, which has been responsible for the Gunners’ recent decline.

The visitors will be sweating on the fitness of Emile Smith-Rowe and Takehiro Tomiyasu while Thomas Partey and Kieran Tierney are not expected to feature again this season.

Possible Arsenal starting line-up

Aaron Ramsdale, Ben White, Gabriel, Kieran Tierney, Rob Holding; Granit Xhaka, Albert Sambi Lokonga, Martin Odegaard; Gabriel Martinelli, Bukayo Saka, Alexandre Lacazette.

Injured: Kieran Tierney, Thomas Partey, 

Doubtful: Takehiro Tomiyasu

Suspended: None 

Prediction

Southampton 2-1 Arsenal