Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal have not hit the ground running since the Covid-19 hiatus ended. After losing 3-0 to Manchester City away, the Gunners were beaten by Brighton at the Amex Stadium at the weekend 2-1.
The manager needs to get his side playing better in the final third and creating chances. Their only goal in the last 180 minutes of football was a wonder striker from Nicolas Pepe against the Seagulls.
Southampton head into the fixture following a 3-0 win against bottom club Norwich City. Ralph Hassenhuttl’s team are 10 points above the bottom three and should be fully safe with a further six points.
Arsenal will be without goalkeeper Bernd Leno for the remainder of the season with an ACL tear. The German shot-stopper collapsed under the challenge of Neal Maupay last weekend. He is now expected to miss 12 months of football and Arteta could bring in Claudio Bravo as a replacement in the offseason.
The Saints managed an away 2-2 draw at the Emirates in November. The game saw both teams score in both halves. Danny Ings scored in the eighth minute with Alexandre Lacazette tallying a goal 10 minutes later. James Ward-Prowess added a second for Southampton in the second period.
Lacazette scored another equaliser in the 90th minute to give Arsenal a share of the spoils they didn’t necessarily deserve. The Gunners are unbeaten in six of their last seven matches in all competitions against Southampton.
Five of the last nine games between the two clubs finished with over 2.5 goals scored. With Arsenal’s defence struggling, Southampton should be able to get on the score sheet once more.
Arteta has eight players on the injured list including Leno. They also are without Calum Chambers, Lucas Torreira, Cedric Soares, Sokratis, Granit Xhaka, and David Luiz. All are out due to injury or, in Luiz’s case, suspension.
Hassenhuttl is without Moussa Djenepo heading into the Thursday night game but will have striker Shane Long back in the team.
Four of Arsenal’s last five league games ended with over 2.5 goals scored. Southampton saw four of their last six matches in the Premier League finish with over 2.5 goals scored. Expect Thursday night’s fixture to see goals with both sides finding the back of the net.
Arsenal should finally get back to winning ways. Although they lost early their season, they have a good head to head record versus the Saints. The Gunners could still salvage their season and a win away to Southampton may be the start.