EPL: Southampton v Arsenal preview
Southampton v Arsenal preview
Arsenal will be hoping to bounce back to winning form in the Premier League with victory at Southampton on Sunday.
The Gunners were on a three-game winning run before losing 3-1 to Manchester United at the Emirates and that defeat has put a temporary stop to their charge up the table, leaving the club fifth going into the weekend's fixtures.
Arsene Wenger's men responded with a 6-0 thumping of BATE in Thursday's final Europa League group game and both Jack Wilshere and Theo Walcott will be pushing for starting places after impressing in the rout.
The French tactician is expected to revert to the same starting 11 that lost to the Red Devils although defender Shkodran Mustafi is an injury concern as he battles a thigh injury.
Southampton have started to show better form in recent weeks and they were unlucky not to take all three points from the south-coast derby last time out, that match ending in a 1-1 draw.
The Saints have also picked up some decent result at St Mary's this season, beating Everton, West Brom and West Ham whilst also drawing against Swansea City and Newcastle United.
Manager Mauricio Pellegrino has received a big blow ahead of the contest after confirming right-back Cedric Soares is out after failing to recover from a hamstring injury picked up against Manchester City at the end of November.
Arsenal have won the last two meetings against Southampton with both of those victories coming at St Mary's.
Arsene Wenger's men responded with a 6-0 thumping of BATE in Thursday's final Europa League group game and both Jack Wilshere and Theo Walcott will be pushing for starting places after impressing in the rout.
The French tactician is expected to revert to the same starting 11 that lost to the Red Devils although defender Shkodran Mustafi is an injury concern as he battles a thigh injury.
Southampton have started to show better form in recent weeks and they were unlucky not to take all three points from the south-coast derby last time out, that match ending in a 1-1 draw.
The Saints have also picked up some decent result at St Mary's this season, beating Everton, West Brom and West Ham whilst also drawing against Swansea City and Newcastle United.
Manager Mauricio Pellegrino has received a big blow ahead of the contest after confirming right-back Cedric Soares is out after failing to recover from a hamstring injury picked up against Manchester City at the end of November.
Arsenal have won the last two meetings against Southampton with both of those victories coming at St Mary's.