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.
2Midfield
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