Top faces the bottom in the Premier League as Arsenal welcome Southampton at the Emirates on Friday night.
ARS vs SOU Match Details
Date: Friday, 21 April 2023, Saturday 22 April 2023
Time: 20:00 (BST), 00:30 (IST)
Venue: Emirates Stadium, London
ARS vs SOU Match Preview
Bukayo Saka’s penalty miss against West Ham proved costly as Arsenal dropped points for the second consecutive Premier League game. They drew 2-2 having done the same at Anfield, a game prior, going two goals up again this time inside the opening 10 minutes with Gabriel Jesus and Martin Odegaard finding the net. The Gunners were once again guilty of switching off in defence with Gabriel bringing down Lucas Paqueta following a cheap giveaway by Thomas Partey. Said Benrahma converted the penalty to give the home side hope which was fulfilled by Jarrod Bowen in the second half. The result and Manchester City winning their clash against Leicester City close down the gap with the top of the table to four points. The title challengers will be involved in the FA Cup semi-finals this weekend therefore Arsenal have the chance to go seven points clear again with a victory over visiting Southampton side, placed bottom at the table. Returning to winning ways will be vital for the side going to face Pep Guardiola’s men themselves
next Wednesday in a title decider. The Gunners will also face Chelsea, Newcastle and Brighton in simultaneous fixtures after that which will decide their faith in the race. Mikel Arteta's side have never lost this meeting against the Saints in 23 home games, the most by a team hosting the other without losing in the competition, so will be confident of taking full points in the game.
Meanwhile, Southampton suffered their third defeat in a row in the Premier League against a reviving Crystal Palace under Roy Hodgson in his second stint at the club. Eberechi Eze scored twice for the away side’s victory as Ruben Selles’ team went winless in their last four games at St Mary’s. This was another disastrous result of their sinking season with a four-point gap remaining from safety. Their worst fear will come true if they do not move away from the bottom place of the table in the next matches. The schedule holds a daunting trip to the league leaders next with fourth-placed Newcastle to face in-between two games against relegation rivals Bournemouth and Nottingham Forest. The Saints have not won in the league since beating Leicester City early last month and without an away victory since defeating Chelsea at Stamford Bridge in February. They did hold Arsenal in the reverse fixture at home but their poor record away in this meeting does not provide any motivation ahead of the clash. The last time Southampton managed to halt the Gunners in both games also was back in 2015-16, the season they secured a Europa League spot. Selles hopes Arsenal’s recent slump shows up again to help them gain something in this relegation scrap.
Recent Form (Premier League)
ARS: DDWWW
SOU: LLLDL
ARS vs SOU Team News
William Saliba will once be missing for Arsenal after his supposed recovery this week took a step back. The Frenchman picked up a back problem in the last 16 Europa League tie against Sporting CP last month and has missed four games for his side after that. The availability of Oleksandr Zinchenko against Southampton is also unclear with the Ukrainian struggling from a groin issue that kept him out last weekend. Rob Holding and Kieran Tierney will continue to fill their vacancy. Mohamed Elneny and Takehiro Tomiyasu also remain side-line.
For the visitors, Juan Larios, Valentino Livramento, Mislav Orsic and Mohammed Salisu remain unavailable through injury. Ainsley Maitland-Niles is ineligible to play against his parent club while Che Adams could return from his calf injury but is unlikely to feature in this clash. Former Gunner Theo Walcott is expected to start on the right wing for the Saints.
ARS vs SOU Predicted Lineups
ARS: Aaron Ramsdale; Ben White, Rob Holding, Gabriel Magalhaes, Kieran Tierney; Xhaka, Thomas Partey, Martin Odegaard; Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Jesus, Gabriel Martinelli
SOU: Gavin Bazunu; Romain Perraud, Jan Bednarek, Bella-Kotchap, Walker-Peters; Romeo Lavia, Ward-Prowse; Theo Walcott, Carlos Alcaraz, Kamaldeen Sulemana; Paul Onuachu
ARS vs SOU Dream11 Team Prediction
GK: Ramsdale (8.5)
DEF: White (8.5), Magalhaes (8.5), Perraud (7.5)
MID: Saka (8.5), Odegaard (9), Lavia (7), Ward-Prowse (8.5), Alcarez (6)
FW: Jesus (9), Martinelli (9)
Vice-captain: Martin Odegaard
Captain: Bukayo Saka
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