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Arsenal vs Southampton: 24/02/2019 – match preview and predicted starting XIs

Arsenal vs Southampton

Date: 24/02/2019 

K/O: 14:05

Venue: Emirates Stadium 

Referee: Graham Scott

Arsenal play host to relegation-threatened Southampton on Sunday afternoon with both sides in desperate need of three points.

Arsenal are clinging onto Manchester United in fourth place and with United facing a tough visit from title-chasing Liverpool at the same time and Chelsea out of action this weekend, Arsenal have a great chance to move into the last Champions League spot.

To do so they will need to beat a Southampton team who beat them 3-2 in the reverse fixture. That game was Ralph Hasenhuttl’s first game in charge and the Austrian manager has sparked something of a revival in his short reign; having said this, Southampton still find themselves in the relegation zone after a cruel defeat last time out in which they scored a last minute equaliser against Cardiff only to concede an even later winner.

Arsenal come into the game after recovering from an embarrassing first-leg loss to Bate Borisov in the Europa League and will need to make a decision to play Aubameyang again so soon after playing 90 minutes on Thursday night. Strike partner Lacazette missed out on Thursday due to suspension and is likely to return as the league’s deadliest duo look to carry on their flat track bullying ruthless goal returns.

Another issue in the Arsenal camp is Mesut Ozil who was challenged by Emery to not be as injured or ill so often in order to make an impact on the Arsenal team. The German has been at his frustrating worst this season but Arsenal look in desperate need of creativity and Ozil often flourishes in games at home against bottom half teams. One things for sure, either Ozil or Mkhitaryan need to find form quickly if the Gunners are to make the top-four.

Southampton are struggling to score goals with only nine in their last eight and with Danny Ings injured, Charlie Austin will shoulder the responsibility but is without a goal since the late winner in the reverse fixture – one of only two goals this season for the veteran forward. Shane Long has also had a run in the team in recent weeks but still lacks a goal threat despite his good work for the team. Southampton’s main attacking threat in recent weeks has been James Ward Prowse and Nathan Redmond; Redmond in particular has shown intelligent movement in recent weeks and his battle against Kolasinac could be an outlet given the left backs complete disregard for defending his own goal.

Southampton will be without Ings, Lemina and in all likelihood Armstrong and will have to decide whether to approach the game in a defensive manner or to try and exploit Arsenal’s vulnerabilities.



Arsenal will still be without long term injury issues Holding, Bellerin and Welbeck. Maitland Niles could miss out through illness and they will assess Koscielny who was replaced early on in the Europa League tie. Good news came through in the return of their most impressive defender Sokratis who will appear in the centre of defense come Sunday.

Predicted Starting XIs

Arsenal (4-3-3): Leno; Lichsteiner, Mustafi, Sokratis, Kolasinac; Torreira, Guendouzi, Xhaka; Iwobi, Aubameyang, Lacazette

Southampton (3-5-2): McCarthy; Bednarek, Stephens, Vestergaard; Valery, Romeu, Hojbjerg, Ward Prowse, Bertrand; Redmond, Long

Score Prediction: Arsenal 3 Southampton 1

Arsenal should have enough to get past a struggling Southampton side but have kept only two clean sheets all season and it would be no surprise to see Redmond exploit Kolasinac before Arsenal fight back.

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