Arsenal face Southampton on Sunday, looking for another three points to keep their fight for a top-four spot going.
After a draw against Manchester United last Wednesday, Arsenal got back to winning ways in the league thanks to a Lucas Torreira overhead kick against Huddersfield Town. Nonetheless, Unai Emery’s side remain outside the top four on goal difference, after Chelsea managed an unexpected win over Manchester City.
In all honesty, this is unlikely to be a weekend where Arsenal’s top four rivals drop points, with Chelsea travelling to Brighton and Tottenham at home to Burnley. However, that just makes it all the more important that the Gunners get a win of their own to avoid falling behind.
Plus, with Manchester United facing Liverpool, the weekend will certainly provide an opportunity to either gain on the league leaders or leave Jose Mourinho’s side even further adrift.
Let’s have a look at our predicted lineup for the match.
Goalkeeper and Defence
Bernd Leno should be back in goal for this one, to continue his recent run in the team in the league matches. There’s no suggestion that Unai Emery has changed his mind on his first-choice goalkeeper.
At left-back, Sead Kolasinac is likely to keep his place, as Nacho Monreal will probably be needed in the middle. The lack of centre-backs means that Emery will probably opt for a back-four, and Monreal is one of few fit players in the squad who has played the position in the past.
Alongside the Spaniard, it’s possible Laurent Koscielny will play, after he made his return to the senior side against Qarabag. Sokratis Pastathopoulos and Shkodran Mustafi are both suspended, and Rob Holding and Konstantinos Mavropanos are injured.
However, it’s a risk to play Koscielny twice in four days after so long on the sidelines, so Stephan Lichtsteiner will likely fill in instead. Hector Bellerin will complete the back four at right-back, as one of Arsenal’s most consistent performers this season.
Click ‘Next’ for Midfield, Forwards and the full Predicted Starting XI
Midfield
As we’re assuming Arsenal are reverting to a back four, that means there are three spaces in midfield up for grabs. Granit Xhaka and Lucas Torreira will take two of them, as they always do.
The third spot seems most likely to go to Matteo Guendouzi. The Frenchman has started Arsenal’s last two league games, and Unai Emery rested him in midweek, implying he’ll be needed from the start on this occasion. Emery went with a midfield three of Xhaka, Torreira and Guendouzi against Huddersfield, and he looks set to do the same again.
Mesut Özil came back from injury to start on Thursday, but despite providing an assist for Arsenal’s goal, he probably won’t keep his place against Southampton. It would be a risk to start him twice in four days right after returning from injury, particularly as he played 83 minutes against Qarabag.
The same goes for Aaron Ramsey, who has just returned to full training after his knock, and who therefore probably won’t be risked from the start in a league game.
Click ‘Next’ for Forwards and the full Predicted Starting XI
Forwards
Unai Emery seems set on using Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang as his centre-forward as it stands, so Alexandre Lacazette might have to settle for a spot on the bench. The Frenchman has been particularly effective as a substitute recently, and the pair struggled when starting together against Huddersfield (mostly due to wasteful finishing).
Plus, Lacazette’s start against Qarabag on Thursday makes it unlikely he’ll start this one, even if he did go off with a third of the game to go.
There’s a small possibility Aaron Ramsey comes into the front three if Emery does consider him fit for selection from the start. If not, Alex Iwobi and Henrikh Mkhitaryan will start, as they’re the only real options at this point.
It’s a shame Emile Smith Rowe is out injured and Reiss Nelson is on loan because both of them could be making a case for Premier League opportunities at the moment. No one has really nailed down the wide-forward positions so far. Bukayo Saka made a good case for himself on Thursday, he’ll likely get another chance in the FA Cup third round.
Click ‘Next’ for the full Predicted Starting XI
Predicted Starting XI
