Arsenal vs Southampton verdict, predicted score, key stats and suggested bets
- Matty Briggs
- 20 April 2023
Arsenal return to the comforts of The Emirates on Friday evening as they look to open up a seven-point gap at the top of the table over Premier League champions Manchester City.
Two successive draws for Arsenal have dented their title ambitions and they will be looking to bounce back against the relegation-threatened Saints.
Date, KO time and TV coverage
Premier League, Friday April 21, Kick-off 8pm, Sky Sports
Predicted score
Suggested bets
Arsenal vs Southampton to draw
Arsenal vs Southampton under 2.5 goals
Key stats
There have been over 2.5 goals scored in Arsenal's last seven Premier League games.
Arsenal have scored at least two goals in their last seven Premier League matches.
Arsenal are undefeated in 17 of their last 19 home matches against Southampton in all competitions.
Southampton have not won at The Emirates since their 2-0 League Cup success in 2016.
Arsenal are unbeaten in their 23 matches at home against Southampton in the Premier League.
Team news
William Saliba is on the comeback trail but will not feature. Oleksandr Zinchenko (groin) missed the West Ham clash, but should be fit. Gabriel Martinelli, Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Jesus will form a three-pronged attack.
Ainsley Maitland-Niles is not eligible against his parent club so Romain Perraud could start, while Juan Larios, Mislav Orsic and Mohammed Salisu are missing for Southampton. Che Adams (calf) is still out, while Moussa Djenepo could replace Theo Walcott out wide. Valentino Livramento could return.
Verdict
Southampton look doomed after losing seven of their last 11 Premier League games and with time running out, the Saints need to find at least four wins from somewhere to stop themselves dropping into the second tier.
They have huge games with Bournemouth and Nottingham Forest to come and they will see this as a free hit.
Saints have been written off by most and Ruben Selles' side might just play with some freedom at The Emirates. Saints are one of three teams that Arsenal have not beaten this season as they have already drawn with the Gunners at home.
Selles has looked at the October draw and will take note of how Saints stopped Arsenal at St Mary's, but the Spaniard will not abandon his principles in the capital.
That said, it's hard to see how a Southampton side that have only scored nine times away from home can topple the league leaders.
However, they have done better away from home than at home and have four wins and just one draw on their travels. They have chalked up wins at Everton and Chelsea on the road recently and could have had more than a 0-0 draw against 10-man Manchester United.
Arsenal will have all the pressure on their shoulders with Man City ominously four points behind in second spot (and with a game in hand). The pressure is starting to be applied by the champions and with that in mind the 1/6 quote about the hosts makes us uneasy.
Twelve home wins from 15 is a record to be fearful of, but two away draws have taken the steam out of Mikel Arteta's men. They gave away a two-goal lead at West Ham and did the same in the previous draw at Liverpool, where they were lucky to escape with a point.
Just what damage that has done to their confidence is unclear, but if they switch off again then this could be a huge banana skin.
A month ago, this game would have proven to be a cakewalk for Arteta's men, but pressure does strange things to teams and Saints are capable of putting a huge dent in the hosts' title ambitions.
