Arsenal vs Southampton preview: Prediction, team news & lineups

After losing momentum in their title charge, Arsenal simply have to win when they host bottom-of-the-table Southampton on Friday night.

The Gunners have been in commanding positions in their two most recent away trips but have garnered just two points which has seen the pendulum swing in Man City’s favour at the top of the Premier League table.

The Citizens are now just four points adrift of Mikel Arteta’s side having played a game fewer. Nevertheless, Arsenal will take a seven-point lead into their potential title decider at the Etihad next Wednesday should they claim an expected victory over the Saints.

City are in FA Cup action this weekend.

Arsenal vs Southampton preview: Prediction, team news & lineups

Here’s our preview of Arsenal’s clash against Southampton on Friday night.

How to watch Arsenal vs Southampton on TV

When is kick-off? Friday 21 April

What time is kick-off? 20:00 (BST)

Where is it played? Emirates Stadium

TV channel/live stream? Sky Ultra HD, Sky Sports Main Event, Sky Sports Premier League (UK) / Telemundo Deportes En Vivo, UNIVERSO NOW, nbcsports.com, UNIVERSO, USA Network (US) / fuboTV (Canada)

Referee? Simon Hooper

Arsenal team news

Despite the crunch game arriving at the Etihad next Wednesday, Arteta is unlikely to make many changes from his favoured starting XI against the current bottom dwellers.

There’s hope Oleksandr Zinchenko will be fit to start on Friday and, if that’s the case, he’ll come in for Kieran Tierney at left-back. William Saliba also appears to be stepping up his recovery, but it’s unlikely that he’ll feature against the Saints.

Arteta isn’t expected to make any changes in midfield or up top.

Southampton team news

The Saints will be without Ainsley Maitland-Niles, who is not eligible against his parent club. Juan Larios, Valentino Livramento, Mislav Orsic and Mohamed Salisu remain unavailable through injury.

Che Adams could return from a calf issue, but the Scotland international is unlikely to start, with Paul Onuachu poised to make the XI.

Moussa Djenepo could also come in out wide in favour of Theo Walcott, while Romain Perraud is likely to take the spot of Maitland-Niles.

Arsenal vs Southampton predicted lineups

Arsenal: Ramsdale; White, Holding, Gabriel, Zinchenko; Xhaka, Thomas, Odegaard; Martinelli, Jesus, Saka

Southampton: Bazunu; Perraud, Bednarek, Bella-Kotchap, Walker-Peters; Djenepo, Ward-Prowse, Lavia, Sulemana; Alcaraz, Onuachu

Arsenal’s recent form

West Ham 2-2 Arsenal (16/04) – Premier League

Liverpool 2-2 Arsenal (09/04) – Premier League

Arsenal 4-1 Leeds Utd (01/04) – Premier League

Arsenal 4-1 Crystal Palace (19/03) – Premier League

Arsenal 1-1 (3-5p) Sporting CP (16/03) – Europa League

Southampton’s recent form

Southampton 0-2 Crystal Palace (15/04) – Premier League

Southampton 1-4 Man City (08/04) – Premier League

West Ham 1-0 Southampton (02/04) – Premier League

Southampton 3-3 Tottenham (18/03) – Premier League

Southampton 0-2 Brentford (15/03) – Premier League

Prediction

Plenty has changed on the south coast since Ralph Hasenhuttl’s Southampton took two points off Arsenal in the reverse fixture.

Hasenhuttle’s former assistant, Ruben Selles, is now at the helm following Nathan Jones’ laughable stint, and the Saints seem resigned to their fate after losing three straight after the international break. The Championship beckons.

Friday’s visitors really have nothing to lose which could make them a dangerous opponent, and I’m expecting the Emirates to be rather tense given the Gunners’ recent slip-ups. Arsenal are far superior, but their recent issues after going ahead may render this a nervy encounter.

Thus, I’m not expecting the hosts to blow their opponents away as some might expect, but they’ll grab a crucial win nonetheless.

Prediction: Arsenal 2-1 Southampton