Southampton welcome Arsenal to St Mary’s Stadium in an all Premier League affair as both teams look to book their spot in the Fifth Round of this season’s FA Cup.
Victory would see Southampton or Arsenal visit the winner of Chorley’s tie against Wolves in the Fifth Round.
Team News
Danny Ings could return for Southampton after missing their last two matches due to fitness issues, following a positive Coronavirus test in recent weeks.
Jannik Vestergaard, Will Smallbone (both knee), Moussa Djenepo, Nathan Tella (both muscle), Nathan Redmond (groin), Mohamed Salisu (muscle), Oriol Romeu (calf) and Michael Obafemi (undisclosed) remain absent.
Arsenal could welcome Dani Ceballos back after the Spanish midfielder missed their league win over Newcastle with tight calf muscles.
Pablo Mari (calf) remains absent but could return next weekend.
Stat Attack
- Southampton have avoided defeat in just one of five FA Cup meetings against Arsenal (D1, L4).
- Arsenal have avoided defeat in two previous away FA Cup trips to Southampton (W1, D1), including in a Fourth Round encounter in January 20017 which they won 5-0 also live on BT Sport.
- Saints have lost three of their last five home FA Cup ties against Premier League opposition (W1, D1, L3), with all three losses coming against London based clubs in Arsenal plus Crystal Palace, of whom defeated them twice.
- Arsenal have scored at least twice in four of their last five trips to St Mary’s in all competitions.
- Mikel Arteta’s Gunners have avoided defeat in seven of eight all Premier League ties across domestic cup competitions (W6, D1, L1) under the Spanish manager.
Prediction
Southampton will be disappointed to not come away from Leicester last weekend with a point but they wasted several shots despite executing a strong counter-attack strategy, before a much rotated team comfortably dispatched Shrewsbury in midweek.
Arsenal meanwhile seem to have reverted to their usual poor form but were able to punish a terrible Newcastle display, which is a huge positive because I can see Ralph Hasenhuttl fielding a strong Southampton lineup and try taking the game to the Gunners.
If they can do that then this certainly could be a cracking contest but if the festive Arsenal that have relished cup ties against fellow top flight opposition under Arteta turn up, I genuinely can’t see past Arsenal winning this even though they’re not at their best currently.
Prediction: Southampton 1-2 Arsenal
Result: Southampton 1-0 Arsenal