2021-22 Premier League: Week 33 – Southampton vs Arsenal

Southampton welcome Arsenal to St Mary’s Stadium in a crucial Premier League clash.

Victory could see Southampton improve to 10th if Brighton and Brentford both lose elsewhere, whereas Arsenal can stay fifth with a win.

 

Team News

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Armando Broja is set to return for Southampton after missing last weekend’s defeat against Chelsea due to being ineligible to face his parent club.

Shane Long (ankle), Alex McCarthy (thigh) and Lyanco (hamstring) could also return if they are declared match fit.

Arsenal have no fresh injury concerns to report after their defeat against Brighton last weekend as Thomas Partey (thigh), Takehiro Tomiyasu (calf) and Kieran Tierney (knee) remain absent.

 

Stat Attack

• Southampton have won just one of their last 12 league meetings against Arsenal (W1, D4, L7).
• Arsenal have lost just one of their last five league visits to Southampton (W3, D1, L1).
• Each of Arsenal’s last three away wins against Southampton have been settled by two-goal margins, with those of two wins by 2-0 results.
• Armando Broja has been substituted on more occasions in the Premier League this season than any other Southampton player, having been benched in 14 of his 26 league starts.
• Granit Xhaka has been yellow carded in each of Arsenal’s last two away matches (L2).

 

Prediction

Having found themselves outclassed by Chelsea last weekend across the pitch with dreadful marking, Southampton were lucky to concede only six goals but they now need to produce a reaction and ensure that this isn’t the start of another rut moving forwards.

Arsenal meanwhile simply had an off-day in their loss to Brighton where they lacked intensity for the second match running with poor finishing, whilst they did at least defend well overall except for their two conceded goals and failure to often close gaps down inside the box.

Both teams therefore need to produce a response so the opening stages of this match could be interesting tactically, although I expect Arsenal to win this given their form at St Mary’s but Southampton should at least give them a game if their defending is better.

Prediction: Southampton 1-2 Arsenal

Result: Southampton 1-0 Arsenal