Arsenal simply has to win this match today, nothing else is acceptable.
This is a huge game for Unai Emery, he must surely know that defeat is unthinkable, in fact, a draw would be unacceptable.
After six winless games, we have here a match that we should be collecting all three points from. We are not talking high calibre opposition in scintillating form.
Most of our players are fresh following the international break with the likes of Mesut Ozil, Alexandre Lacazette, Hector Bellerin, and Kieran Tierney all being rested.
The recent performances have not been good that is for sure. We are barely getting a shot on target, creating almost nothing and doing our usual head drop once it goes wrong. That must change today.
However, we haven’t lost a league game at home this season and I doubt very much that Southampton will become the first team to beat us at the Emirates.
Southampton do OK on the road but they are in the relegation zone for a reason, they are not very good. They do pose a danger, of course they do and so complacency cannot be allowed to set in.
A lot will depend on what formation Emery employs, I am not too bothered about team selection because I feel whatever team he puts out will be good enough to win. But if players are played out of position and the formation is wrong then disaster could happen.
And that is the huge worry with Emery, he has a history of wrong formations and playing players out of position. Hopefully, he has learned his lesson.
Providing Emery does the very basics of his job and the players do theirs then Arsenal will win and win comfortably.
Prediction
Arsenal 3-1 Southampton