ARSENAL are looking to arrest a slump in form at the worst possible time as they head to Southampton with the top four still in their sights.
After a fine mid-season, Mikel Arteta’s side are starting to hit bumps in the road and are in danger of missing out on the Champions League.
The Gunners have lost their last two consecutive league games which has led to bitter rivals Spurs leapfrogging them on the charts.
And now, the North London outfit come up against a side which they rarely get joy out of on their home ground in Southampton.
However, the Saints are going into this match off the back of a 6-0 pummelling by Chelsea which would have severely damaged their confidence.
After a run of seven games undefeated, Ralph Hasenhuttl’s side now winless in six, failing to grab more than one point from some very winnable games.
- Kick off time: 3pm at St Mary’s
- TV channel/Live stream: This game is not being broadcast or live streamed in the UK because of Uefa’s blackout rules. In the US, subscription members of NBC can stream the game via the NBC Sport website or app.
- Southampton team news: Forster, Walker-Peters, Bednarek, Lyanco, Perraud, Valery, Stuart Armstrong, Romeu, Ward-Prowse, Elyounoussi, Broja.
- Arsenal team news: Ramsdale, Cedric, White, Gabriel, Tavares, Odegaard, Sambi Lokonga, Xhaka, Saka, Nketiah, Martinelli.
Stay up to date with all the latest from St Mary’s in our live blog…
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Southampton 1-0 Arsenal
59. Tavares puts in a cross.
Poor clearance by the goalscorer Bednarek.
Martinelli goes for goal with a volley but it is well over.
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Southampton 1-0 Arsenal
57. Rough tackle from Armando Broja on Ben White.
The referee has no choice but to book the Southampton striker.
Broja has no arguments there.
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Southampton 1-0 Arsenal
55. Cedric puts a cross in for Arsenal.
The ball deflects behind the Southampton defence but Fraser Forster comes rushing out to collect.
Routine save for the Southampton stopper.
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Southampton 1-0 Arsenal
53. Perraud gets forward again.
As he comes forward the Arsenal defence seem to part for him to run through.
His shot is blocked for a corner.
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Southampton 1-0 Arsenal
51. Nketiah looks to thread the ball through into the box but it is intercepted by Southampton.
Arsenal seem to be trying to create chances but the final ball is lacking.
Tavares has another shot from outside the box but on this occasion it is well over.
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Southampton 1-0 Arsenal
49. Shot by Tavares who goes for goal.
His shot is blocked by Walker-Peters and goes out for a throw.
Odegaard swings the ball in but it is volleyed clear by James Ward-Prowse.
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Southampton 1-0 Arsenal
47. Odegaard puts a dangerous cross into the box.
Xhaka’s first touch is poor and the chance goes begging.
Odegaard shows his frustration.
Xhaka didn’t seem to be expecting the ball.
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Kick-off: Southampton 1-0 Arsenal
Arsenal get us back underway.
They are attacking the chapel end in the second half.
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HT: Southampton 1-0 Arsenal
It is integral that Arsenal come out of the traps here.
They need to find an equaliser as soon as possible.
Draws are of no use to The Gunners they need to find two goals if not more.
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HT: Southampton 1-0 Arsenal
Arsenal will have felt that they were in control of this game before the Southampton goal.
Fraser Forster had kept the home side in this up until that stage.
With no Lacazette today, Arsenal need to find a goalscorer from somewhere.
Nothing but a win will do for Arteta’s side in their race for fourth.
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HT: Southampton 1-0 Arsenal
The referee brings the first half to a close.
Bednarek’s goal separates the two sides.
Big work for Arteta to do at half-time.
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Southampton 1-0 Arsenal
45. Ramsdale punches the ball clear.
Ben White seems injured and stays down.
He seems to play a lot of Southampton players onside by this and Bednarek hits a shot with his left foot into the goal.
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Goal – Jan Bednarek (Southampton)
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Southampton 0-0 Arsenal
43. Dangerous challenge by Ben White on Elyounoussi.
Ward-Prowse whips in the free kick.
It is flicked on at the near post by Nketiah and goes behind for a Southampton corner.
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Southampton 0-0 Arsenal
41. Southampton need to get James Ward-Prowse on the ball more.
He has one of the best deliveries in the league let alone this game.
Ward-Prowse’s cross is headed clear by Xhaka.
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Southampton 0-0 Arsenal
39. Southampton win a corner through Perraud.
He did well to win the corner off a back-peddling Cedric.
Southampton cannot find a red and white shirt with their deal-ball delivery this afternoon.
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Southampton 0-0 Arsenal
37. Peter Banks seems keen to keep his cards in his pocket today.
On a few occasions there have been heavy challenges that could warrant a yellow.
Cedric looks to cross but hits it way over the bar with a woeful cross.
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Southampton 0-0 Arsenal
35. Cedric swings the free kick into box ahead of Odegaard.
Big cheer from the Southampton fans as the ball runs into the side netting.
Poor delivery by the Portuguese international.
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Southampton 0-0 Arsenal
33. Armstrong is looking to get involved more for The Saints and is looking to link up midfield and attack.
He tries to play a ball in behind the Arsenal defence but it is intercepted.
Lyanco is penalised for pushing Nketiah.
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Southampton 0-0 Arsenal
31. Southampton are not a team who look to dominate possession as a tactic irrelevant to the opposition.
Often facing teams who look to come at them really works the home side.
Patiently waiting for their chance, they will need to be clinical.
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Southampton 0-0 Arsenal
29. Martinelli is up and walks gingerly towards the bench.
The replay shows it may have been a foul as he is caught by trailing leg of the challenge.
The Gunners push forward looking to create something.
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Southampton 0-0 Arsenal
27. Stuart Armstrong has a shot on goal for the hosts.
Not really testing Ramsdale too much as he makes an easy save.
Played stops while Martinelli is down on the ground.
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Southampton 0-0 Arsenal
25. Arsenal have had the better chances early on here.
Forcing Fraser Forster into two very good saves already.
Southampton not really troubling Ramsdale yet.
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Southampton 0-0 Arsenal
23. Today is a massive chance for Arsenal.
They have dropped too many points of late themselves but have an opportunity to right those wrongs today.
Arteta knows how important it is they take advantage of Spurs’ slip-up earlier against Brighton.
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Southampton 0-0 Arsenal
21. Martinelli has started brightly for The Gunners.
He is looking to get crosses into dangers areas of the pitch.
With no recognised striker, Arsenal will need to give him more options to hit.
