Arsenal is set to take on Southampton in a crucial match where every game matters as they fight for the Premier League title. However, Arsenal’s recent dips in form against Liverpool and West Ham United, where they failed to secure victories despite having a lead, have created frustration among fans. Arsenal hopes to regain form and confidence with a win against Southampton before facing Manchester City.
William Saliba will be absent, continuing his slow recovery process, as he’s not progressing as the team had hoped. Similarly, Oleksandr Zinchenko is unlikely to start as he continues to recover from an injury. Arsenal may opt for a tactical shift in his absence.
Arsenal’s manager, Mikel Arteta, may make up to three changes to the team that last drew against West Ham United. The team will see Aaron Ramsdale in goal, while the back four remains unaltered, with Kieran Tierney likely to drop out, and Granit Xhaka filling in for him. This tactical change offers a creative presence to Arsenal’s defence to support their ball dominance.
Fabio Vieira, alongside Thomas Partey, may replace Xhaka and offer defensive support to supplement the captain, Martin Odegaard. Arsenal could make few changes in its attacking lineup, replacing Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli with Emile Smith-Rowe and Leandro Trossard to keep these star players fresh for next week.
Incorporating Trossard, who has impressed since joining in January, is essential to secure early goals for Arsenal. Gabriel Jesus will flank these two in Arsenal’s predicted lineup, scoring four goals in his last three games.
Predicted line-up (4-3-3): Ramsdale; White, Gabriel, Holding, Xhaka; Vieira, Odegaard, Partey; Smith-Rowe, Jesus, Trossard.
