Arsenal's bid for the top four continues
Arsenal’s hunt for the Premier League top four continues on Wednesday as they travel to Southampton for another must-win match.
Arsene Wenger’s first win over Jose Mourinho in the Premier League, coupled with Liverpool dropping points against Wednesday’s opponents, leaves Arsenal very much in the hunt for Champions League qualification, though they still require their rivals to slip up.
In addition Arsenal must surely win all their remaining four league games, few of which look like an easy three points for Wenger’s men. Indeed they have struggled at St Mary’s on more than one occasion in recent years, losing 4-0 on the south coast on Boxing Day in 2015.
The Gunners ran in five on the road to Southampton in the FA Cup in January but that was a much weakened Saints side. Can Arsenal repeat the trick when the pressure is on in midweek?
Scroll down for Standard Sport’s comprehensive preview…
START TIME
Southampton host Arsenal at St Mary’s on Wednesday May 10, with kick-off at 7:45pm.
TV AND LIVE ONLINE COVERAGE
There will be no live television coverage of the match in the UK, but you can follow coverage right here via our London Football live blog
TEAM NEWS
Granit Xhaka suffered a recurrence of the ankle injury that threatened to rule him out of Sunday’s 2-0 win over Manchester United and now faces a major race against time to prove his fitness for Wednesday night.
Should Xhaka miss out Aaron Ramsey is likely to be partnered by Francis Coquelin, with Mohamed Elneny a possible contender to join Wenger’s starting XI.
Danny Welbeck is expected to retain his place at the tip of Arsenal’s attack after being praised by Wenger for his goalscoring feats against his former side whilst Shkodran Mustafi could return to the squad, though whether he replaces Rob Holding or Nacho Monreal in the back three is a doubt.
Southampton are to be without long-term absentees Charlie Austin and Virgil van Dijk but Claude Puel is likely to be able to retain the same squad who performed so creditably in their 0-0 draw at Liverpool on Sunday.
POSSIBLE LINE-UPS
Southampton XI: Forster; Soares, Stephens, Yoshida, Bertrand; Romeu, Davis, Ward-Prowse; Tadic, Gabbiadini, Boufal
Arsenal XI: Cech; Holding, Koscielny, Monreal; Oxlade-Chamberlain, Coquelin, Ramsey, Gibbs; Ozil, Welbeck, Sanchez
HEAD-TO-HEAD
PREDICTION
BETTING ODDS
Southampton to win: 49/20
Draw: 13/5
Arsenal to win: 11/5
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