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Recommended bets
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Match preview
Arsenal just keep on winning.
Last Sunday, Bukayo Saka’s magnificent early strike, followed by some last-ditch defending, saw the Gunners, just about, beat Leeds 1-0 at Elland Road.
The game incurred a 37 minute delay, due to a power failure which prevented VAR from operating.
In the end, Arsenal were thankful for the technology, as it overturned a 96th minute Leeds penalty and Gabriel red card.
That victory means Mikel Arteta’s team are now four points clear at the top, with Arsenal having began a top-flight season with nine wins out of ten for the first time ever.
Then, on Thursday evening, the Gunners, pretty much, wrapped up top spot in their Europa League group with two games to spare.
Overall, having won 13 of 14 outings this season, the visitors have to be strong favourites to win this one too.
Meanwhile, Southampton kept their first clean sheet since beating Arsenal on 16 April this week.
The Saints overcame South Coast rivals Bournemouth at Dean Court on Wednesday; Ché Adams the only scorer, doing so early.
This was the first time since August Ralph Hasenhüttl’s side have tasted victory, losing four on the bounce prior to last Sunday’s 1-1 draw with West Ham.
Nevertheless, Southampton are up to 14th, albeit just two points clear of danger.
Since the Saints’ were most-recently promoted in 2012, Arsenal have won just four of 12 visits to St Mary’s.
Will the league-leader improve that ratio with victory here?
Southampton team news
Ainsley Maitland-Niles is ineligible as he’s currently on loan from Arsenal, while Roméo Lavia is injured.
Ibrahima Diallo is therefore likely to come into midfield, partnering James Ward-Prowse.
Meanwhile, Armel Bella-Kotchap suffered a collar-bone injury last weekend, putting his World Cup participation in doubt.
Thus, Duje Ćaleta-Car will continue to partner Mohammed Salisu at centre-back.
Right-back could be an issue though, with Tino Livramento a long-term absentee, while Kyle Walker-Peters hobbled off on Wednesday.
As a result, Lyanco, a central-defender by trade, could be force to fill-in.
Theo Walcott, who made 398 appearances for Arsenal, scoring 108 goals, will be on the bench, hoping for his first minutes of the season.
Arsenal team news
As has been the case this season, Mikel Arteta rotated for the midweek Europa League game, with all the big guns back for this one.
There are no fresh injury concerns, with Oleksandr Zinchenko, Mohamed Elneny and Emile Smith Rowe all out long-term.
The Ukrainian hasn’t featured since the North London derby, and no updates have been given about his availability.
In Zinchenko’s continued absence, left-back is up for grabs, so it’ll be interesting to see which one of Kieran Tierney or Takehiro Tomiyasu, who both started on Thursday, get the nod.
Aaron Ramsdale, Benjamin White, William Saliba, Thomas Partey, Martin Ødegaard and Gabriel Martinelli will all return to the XI.
Saliba and Gabriel Jesus are both one yellow card away from suspension.
Southampton vs Arsenal: Match statistics
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