TEAM NEWS
Alexandre Lacazette is available after being suspended for that match but Ainsley Maitland-Niles is struggling with illness. Arsenal hope captain Laurent Koscielny will be fit despite him limping off in Thursday’s Europa League win.
Southampton forward Michael Obafemi could feature for the first time since mid-December after recovering from a hamstring injury. Stuart Armstrong, who has had a minor calf problem, is also fit again.
MOTD COMMENTATOR’S NOTES
@SimonBrotherton: It was Southampton who ended Arsenal’s 22-match unbeaten run back in December and since then Unai Emery’s side have been mostly underwhelming and inconsistent.
Since that 3-2 defeat at St Mary’s, they’ve won seven and lost six of the 14 games played in all competitions.
The good news for Arsenal is that they’re still in the thick of a three-way fight for fourth place, despite losing ground, and have at least been decent at home recently, winning the last six.
In contrast, Southampton suffered a costly defeat at home to Cardiff last time out that left them in the relegation zone – and their manager fuming.
VIEW FROM THE DUGOUT
Arsenal head coach Unai Emery: “Like all the teams in the Premier League, Southampton are difficult and they will be preparing for this match with big players and also with time and for us it is difficult.
“We have respect [for them] but we need to impose our gameplan and quality and intensity.
“It is very important to get the three points.”
Southampton manager Ralph Hasenhuttl on the club’s recent training camp in Tenerife: “It was an intensive time but I think we needed it. I think we have a long way to go until the end. We will need 40 points maybe to stay in the league, I think.
“It was important to get a reminder and to speak about things that can be better in the future for all the different challenges we are facing in the next few weeks.
“It was easier for me to be critical at times, and maybe this will help us in the last 12 games.”
LAWRO’S PREDICTION
Arsenal have got some issues they need to sort out – Mesut Ozil’s future being one of them – but their home record is very good and they should still be too strong for Saints.
Prediction: 2-0
MATCH FACTS
Head-to-head
- Arsenal are unbeaten in their last 23 home league games against Southampton (W17, D6).
- Southampton have won never won at Arsenal in the Premier League (D5, L14).
- However, Saints are looking to complete their first league double over Arsenal since 1988, when a 17-year-old Alan Shearer scored a hat-trick on his first league start.
Arsenal
- They are unbeaten in 12 Premier League home games, winning six in a row ahead of Sunday.
- The Gunners have conceded 999 Premier League goals – only seven teams have so far conceded 1,000.
- Fulham are the only club to have kept fewer Premier League clean sheets this season than Arsenal, whose four have all come at home.
- Arsenal have come from behind to earn 12 points this season – second only to Leicester’s tally of 13.
- Alexandre Lacazette could become the first Arsenal player to score in four consecutive Premier League home matches since Robin van Persie netted in five in a row from December 2011 to March 2012.
- Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has scored 25 goals and provided eight assists in 38 Premier League appearances, and has scored six goals in his last six home league games.
Southampton
- Southampton have lost just one of their last six league matches (W2, D3).
- They are unbeaten in four away league games, taking eight points.
- Their only clean sheet in 17 Premier League fixtures came in a 0-0 draw with Chelsea in January.
- Saints have dropped a league-high 17 points from winning positions this season.
- Shane Long has scored 49 Premier League goals and could become only the fourth Irish player to score 50.
- Southampton striker Charlie Austin, who has made 99 Premier League appearances, has scored in all five of his league games against Arsenal.
Source: BBC News
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