Arsenal vs Southampton Preview, Predicted line up and predicted score by KJ
This has been a rocky season and the usual pattern would mean that we’d drop points against Southampton. However, there is hope that we are finally going to push on now and win against the Saints would send a message that we are finally hitting some consistency.
The last time Southampton visited the Emirates, Mr Admin was lucky enough to get some free Arsenal Tickets but was disappointed to see a makeshift Gunners team get beaten 2-1 after Alexis gave us the lead with a sublime freekick. Hopefully we can score first again and hold on to our lead.
So we all know that Southampton have been very strong this season so far and that reflects in the fact that they are currently sitting in the top 4. However, they’ve got a tough run of games coming up and a win takes us only 3 points behind them. This is where we’ll see whether they are top 4 contenders or not.
It seems like Santi and Chamberlain have stepped up recently is should be a big relief for Alexis who’s been carrying this team for far too long. I don’t know whether this is a game where Wenger will opt to rest him considering our multitude of injuries.
Predicted line up:
Martinez
Chambers – Mertesacker – Koscielny – Bellerin/Gibbs/Monreal
Flamini – Ramsey
Oxlade-Chamberlain – Cazorla – Welbeck
Giroud
Martinez should keep his place with Szczesny still out.
It looks like Monreal and Gibbs are struggling to make this game and I think Wenger will opt to play Bellerin on the left rather than rejigging the rest of the defence to accommodate Bellerin on the right.
Cazorla to play in the middle instead of Alexis as I expect the Chilean to get a rest with him coming on if we need a goal.
Welbeck should start again out wide with the freedom to drift closer to Giroud so he can combine when we are attacking.
Giroud will start as the central striker and we need to see good passing but also good movement. He scored twice against Southampton last season but it was more down to their mistakes than brilliant play by Giroud and I don’t think he’ll be so lucky this time round.
I can see us winning this game as we’ve had extra rest and it seems like we might be finally on the dawn of getting our act together. 2 – 0.
Kash