Super Sunday again kicks off at the Emirates as Arsenal welcome Southampton to North London.
Both teams come into this needing a win for different reasons at both ends of the Premier League table.
Arsenal who are currently on a five match winning streak in all competitions are just two points ahead of Burnley, despite both having a game in hand.
Southampton meanwhile know that victory could lift them to safety and drop Crystal Palace into the relegation zone on goal difference.
Team news
Arsenal will be without January signing, Henrikh Mkhitaryan after the Armenian injured his knee during Thursday’s win over CSKA Moscow.
Pierre Emerick-Aubameyang meanwhile is available to start after missing the midweek game through ineligibility.
Petr Cech will keep his place in goal after David Ospina sprained his ankle during training.
Ospina is expected to be ruled out for next three weeks as a result.
Southampton will hand midfielder, Mario Lemina a fitness test after he resumed training on Friday, following illness.
Sam McQueen is the Saints’ only definite absentee with a groin strain.
Form
Arsenal come into this on a hot five match winning streak in all competitions.
At home in 2018, the Gunners have won four of their six league games, with a draw and defeat coming against fellow top six members in form of Chelsea and Manchester City respectively.
Arsenal have notched up 17 home goals with 7 of those goals coming from a combo of Aubameyang and Aaron Ramsey.
Southampton come here winless in last five league games since a 3-2 away win at West Bromwich Albion on first weekend of February.
In that time, they have managed to score once and drew blank in the other four games.
Just to add to their woeful form, the Saints have lost both of their last two games by a 3-0 result.
Stat Attack
- Arsenal have avoided defeat in four of last five meetings across all competitions.
- Since a 1-0 home defeat in November 1987, Arsenal have not lost in 22 leagues meetings at home to Southampton (W16 D6).
- Just one of those draws was 0-0, coming last time out in September 2016.
- Mark Hughes beat Arsenal in August with Stoke City so will be looking to become the first manager to beat Arsenal in same season with two different clubs.
- Charlie Austin has scored in all three previous Premier League appearances vs Arsenal.
Where can game be won or lost?
| Per Game Average | Arsenal (home) | Southampton (away) |
| Corners | 6.88 | 5.53 |
| Fouls | 9.88 | 12.13 |
| Shots | 18.25 | 10.27 |
| Shots on Target | 7.69 | 3 |
| Goals | 2.63 | 0.87 |
| Yellow Cards | 1.25 | 1.87 |
| Red Cards | 0 | 0 |
| Goals per First Half % | 45.2 | 46.2 |
| Goals per Second Half % | 54.8 | 53.8 |
Arsenal will fancy their chances here given how dominant they’re in every area.
Southampton’s best hopes of winning lies in being at their clinical best, particularly in first half when average more goals than Arsenal.
Other than that, this game is Arsenal’s to lose in my opinion.
Prediction
Although Mark Hughes knows how to beat Arsenal, Southampton have been poor away from St Marys all season.
For that reason, I can see just one winner.
Prediction: Arsenal 3-0 Southampton
Jake predicts: Arsenal 2-0 Southampton
Result: Arsenal 3-2 Southampton
Leave a Reply