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Official Arsenal team to face Southampton – Pepe is back

This is a massive game for Mikel Arteta because another loss and the pressure may become unbearable despite what the likes of Edu may have to say.

Arsenal faces an in-form Southampton side who could, in theory, go joint top this evening and so the stakes could not be any higher for both teams.

Arteta must get his team selection absolutely right this evening, he has to get the tactics and strategy right and his team has to deliver for him, anything less is unthinkable right now.

Anyway, this is the team.

What do you think of the team that Mikel Arteta has gone with against the Saints this evening?

Has Arteta has got it right this time or has he got it wrong again?

Leave us your comments below and maybe predict the score at the same time.

Also, if you go to the official Arsenal website here you will be able to get live commentary text and radio.

JustArsenal predicted Arsenal team (for comparison) here
JustArsenal match preview here

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391 Comments

  5. Nice to see some changes albeit some of them enforced because of suspensions. Delighted to see AMN in starting line up.

    No matter how disappointing this latest run if games has been, I still love this pre-kick-off feeling. Not brave enough for a prediction though – COYGs!

  6. This is just gambling at its best!!!

    The stupidest lineup you’ll find anywhere.

    No Cedric, Willian???

    Good luck dreaming of a win.

  7. Dont like the look of the team tbh. I would bench pepe, aubameyang, holding and would have played the youngsters because for me if we dont win tonight it will be good night for artet. And I will go for a 3-1 win
    🤞

  8. Arsenal have a 💯% win record when Aubameyang-Nketiah-Pepe starts, let’s hope history repeats itself. COYG!

  9. Southampton cannot go joint top, possible second but likely third unless they beat us by a hat full of goals and the other game is a big scoring win too for either side🤔

  12. Thank God Bellerin is suspended and AMN takes his place I hope we sell Bellerin in Jan or next summer, the dude has always been useless specially when it comes to defending. I don’t know why we bought Cedric when Arteta does not trust him enough to play in league.

      1. Well how many suiters came in for Bellerin in summer the so called beat RB in world 😂. We will see if we sell him but unless you want us to keep such players and fight for survival every year.

  13. No too bad of a lineup considering what he has to work with. Still not keen on Tierney playing a LCB is subtracts from what he can do going forward.

    Delighted to see AMN get a start, hopefully soon he’ll get some time as a CM in upcoming matches.

    Nketiah doesn’t fill me with much confidence overcoming the goal scoring drought, but hopefully he’ll prove me wrong.

    Love love love to see Martinelli and Balogun come on as subs in the 2nd half because I believe they can have an impact.

    3-4-3 we’re more solid defensively, but very lethargic in getting the ball into scoring positions. Without Xhaka maybe the transitions will be faster, and AMN, Ceballos, and Saka can take on defenders and create some space.

    Very interesting to see how the players respond, and if Arteta will put his crossing strategy on the shelf or continue with the madness.

    2. Err – Durand ….am i misreading the lineup – looks like 4.3.3. to me – and so Tierney isnt playing LCB – he is left back. ..and Martinelli and Balogun arent on the bench so might find it difficult for their 2nd half impact?

      Maybe they are in an alternate universe – have you watched Tenet this week by chance 🙂

      1. Ha Iain, I saw it last night. Not sure if Tenet or Arsenal are more painful to watch…?

        Still not confident. Nketiah instead of Balogun? Pah!

      2. Watch the game, back 3 with Tierney at LCB like I said, 3-4-3.

        Next time watch them play, not the lineup card on the screen SMH

  16. 2 CBs on the bench and no ESR , which disappoints me.That said looks a well balanced side whether 3-4-3 or 4-3-3.

  18. Arteta starting to annoy me a bit now with his team selections… still a distinct lack of creativity in the middle, yet we have someone like Smith-Rowe in the squad who doesn’t even make the bench! I hope he proves me wrong but not convinced he will… COYG

  19. Definitely better balance on the wings with this starting 11, but jesus I really cant pick a winner today! All our forwards need to put in a severe shift.

  22. Why not play Cedric at right back and niles at dm then shift ceballos to Am. If arteta loses this match,it will be because of his selections. Nketiah at Am is a diaster waiting to happen.

    1. @Gibson

      Relax bro. I believe everyone on just araenal has an opinion about this line up but this is what the manager has chosen. Let’s give him the benefit of the doubt and support.

      What if he wins convincingly?

  23. Would have kept Cedric as natural rb allowed amn to play from centre of park and drop nketiah who game after game has proved he is championship level at best … if the effort is there we can win it but another lackluster performance and MA will be an early 🦃

    1. 👍…Cedric has been a strange one as well. Why don’t we play him league and if he does not have that level then why did we buy him.

      1. Yeah, are we overplaying him? Also, in a team like ours, on bad form, it seems his growth has stunted somewhat. I hope I am wrong though..

  26. I dispise Arteta win or lose he’s not good enough for arsenal, until we have a top experienced manager that is when I will trust the process.Otherwise this season is a written off forme ,an academic exercise

    1. We are writing off seasons after seasons for last 15 years..
      I don’t know why people are so concerned…
      We are habitual to all these things..

  27. Arsenal unable to win the press in Southampton half, half-hearted press and on the other end unable to break away from their press.

  31. Seen enough in 13 min same shxt no change. We are getting a footballing lesson from South Hampton at home. Now don’t tell me South Hampton is one of the best teams in world. While we don’t know what to do with ball they are passing around us like training ground. Even in worst days of Wenger smaller teams never used to do this to us.

    2. Failed pressing, failed ball retention, failed ball progression, needless fouls… what are we doing today bro?

      1. Loosing thanks to that MA
        But soon on next few we will see article supporting MA on this Blog…
        We will see how MA is important for this club
        How his vision is much more important..

        2. Yup, it always happens. The site will be flooded with pro Areta articles, how great he has been and how great he will be. Sick of all now. It’s just plane stubbornness from board and some fans.

          1. Yes… There will be just 1 reference of winning of FA Cup..
            But how on earth people forget that Anthony Taylor played big part in our win he awarded Red card Kovacic..
            In no world it was red card..

          1. Exactly admin lol theres plenty of other arsenal blogs I dont understand, why be here if it’s so biased and terrible 🤷‍♂️

      3. It’s really unfair calling Olivier Giroud and Theo a dross player, they had over 100 goals each for this club it wasn’t by accident.

        Theo even got most of is goals coming through the wing, how many wingers had over 15 goals in a season as at that period?
        Scoring against us this night is just a sign what he is capable of one on one with goal keeper or when he beat a defender with his pace.

        If any of our current attackers is as clinical as that we will not be in this position.
        Aubu and Laca has messed up a lot of such chances this season and that is why we are here in 15 position if we won’t further go down.
        It’s a pity.

        1. It’s more of a mickey take, as there are a few on here who class those players as ‘dross’
          Sid would never say anything like that about our players/former players

  34. Walcott… how in the blue hell has he managed aswell to score against us. Mikel I’m sorry its time to go!

      1. Is has to with Allegri sitting there. Arsenal are not going anywhere with Mikel, we are even worse than when Emery was in charge. Hell even Wenger did a better job in his last season than this crap.

  37. I don’t care what any one says now…even the stupidest person on earth can see what a mess we are all thanks to Arteta. Sack him and send Edu packing with him bec he is so blind he sees this is progression.

  39. Bye bye Me Arteta …even if we some how manage to win. This is not teh football I want us to play and see. Where we play like a opponents little bitch.

  42. When we play Everton iwobi to score against us
    When we play West brom, Gibbs or Bartley to do the same?
    And Isaac Hayden to score for Newcastle against us?
    It’s so easy to beat us nowadays, even a goalie would be able to score against us

    1. And still author and people on this blog say MA improved defence after taking Arsenal..
      In Emery time our defence was leaky but at least his team used to score..

      1. But regardless of everything going wrong at arsenal at the moment he still HAS improved our defense lol less goals conceded per game less shots conceded per game, I dont care how much people slag off arteta at this point because we are terrible, but what you just said said is not correct. And no I’m not defending MA, just the facts. So the author and people on this blog are in fact right

        1. Yah right! we are loosing every game by conceding and you still insist that our defense has improved. Go for it.

          2. Icw check the stats if you dont believe me lol, in terms of defense ONLY we have conceded LESS shots and LESS goals, its fact lol not up for debate, results are irrelevant in the point I’m trying to make, strictly DEFENSE. Hes sladering the “author and people on here” with something that is incorrect. Again I’m not defending MA lol just the facts.

          3. Typical, zero admission that your wrong, just dont reply and go make more angry posts lol classy stuff guys 👍

  45. Simone must be laughing at Partey now like Suarez is at Barcelona. This is what money can do Partey traded a champions League and one of the top teams in la Liga for this.

  48. Any reason why Smith Rowe did not make the bench? Martinelli is fit already. he should be on the bench.

        2. Not at only at the moment but for last 15 years…
          It’s like you are going through Cancer from last 15 years and now your cancer is in last stage and you can’t do anything about it..
          You tried 2 Chemotherapy but those have miserably…

  50. We keep losing at home. I really don’t see how MA can turn this around now, the team has lost complete confidence. They can end up losing the next 10 games straight. This is the worst arsenal I’ve ever seen.

  51. Magalhaes couldn’t handle Che Adams and Arteta made another wrong decision by using 4-4-2. Arteta actually didn’t have to follow Soton’s tactic to keep up with them

    The Gunners played with low confidence and I think it’s the refelction of Arteta’s self-confidence currently. If they lose, unfortunately Arsenal has to replace Arteta due to the series of defeats

    1. GAI, No amount of changes in lineup or tactics will change the fortune of this team as long as MA is the coach. This team lack ideas in the most basic things like positioning, passing, movement. That’s all on Arteta

      1. Most Gunners were panic, especially the defenders. They should have not cleared with long balls, but their confidence is so low

    2. Shut the fcuk up. This charade has nothing to do with formation. Open your eyes and see what is happening on the pitch.

    3. which 4-4-2 are you reffering to? i dont even know where Saka is playing, we have different formation and players positioning is zero.
      Every time we are not with the ball we are lost, no cohension or understanding

        1. Aubemayang and nketiah are strikers … I missed that… I thought they were auditioning for lampposts in the local Xmas panto

  52. They wont sack him so may as well get with him!
    They want to keep him until next summer when ozil has gone and he has another window.
    Why does anyone else think this has anything to do with the manager?
    William xhaka and bellerin were slated so tonight they’re not playing even though 2 of them cant.
    This is all about fear of losing and nerves.
    Play AMN people said and hea playing.
    Win the first game and wed be away but has nothing to do with arteta.
    This is due to the fact that slowly weve depleted the quality and core of our side such that weve lost our identity.
    Also against any team with a player with walcotts pace were in trouble as we clearly can’t defend well at the moment.

    I’m as angry as everyone but it’s the signings and loss of previous players that has us here!

    1. @kedar
      That’s not true dont you think if he thought ESR had enough quality, was fit enough, confident enough or he could trust him to contribute to a win hed not.play him?
      Weve a 2st team squad that is mid table with 2nd string kids and ageing players.
      But yes worst arsenal I can ever remember.

      Coyg auba get it in the net!! Then you’ll be off again.

      1. What our senior players are achieving at the moment??
        They are anyway loosing..
        So let’s loose with some youngsters..

  53. MA thinks being vocal in the touchline is all that is needed to win matches now…been shouting all the way and yet it’s Walcott!

  55. Look at how Ralph has them all playing. They look so comfortable… and if it stays like this they’re heading to the summit. Hats off to them!
    That is a proper manager

    1. And that’s after quite a few hammerings also along the way so hats off to Soton 👏 always liked Soton because Matt Le Tissier was unbelievable and loyal player!!

      1. He was a hell of a player, Sean…. and I miss him on Soccer Saturday 😜
        Hassenhuttl is such a likeable guy also… 👍

  58. If I may present a very tiny bit of positive, then we seem to play from the middle more, and Southampton have defended well to keep out our chances..

  63. What’s edu shaking his head about? Arteta is doing an amazing job and the board are fully behind him and the future is bright!

    3. 😂🤣😆…edu is laughing next he will convince the club to go and bring a Brazilian manager to rescue us that too past his sell by date.

  65. Can someone explain how is this remotely possible? 8 – 9 players around the box and Southampton still manages to put the ball inside the box.

    Do they really train or just train for the sake of releasing a video?

  67. Difference between world class manager and over hyped mid tabel manager. One lost few matches, almost went out of the champions League which never happened in past to the club and struggling in league and injuries to key players. How does he reply back, plays attacking football, gives confidence to his players, makes a part time RB look like world best and not only won critical games in 2 week of space but his team absolutely dominates opposition to shut the mouth of critics. Now look at the other one so called great manager Arteta…look at the football we are playing, look what a small clubs are doing to us and he responds back with series of more losses at home.

        1. Ohh shit🤦‍♂️🤦‍♂️ so silly of me..
          Man Zizu is still the GOAT! Kinda hope Madrid get Halaand or Mbappe and Zizu can go on to win more UCLs.

  69. Saints seem 2 have 13 players on the pitch. Ceballos ain’t gettn into real madrid team any year soon disgusting player

  71. I think Edu thinks we are the brazillian Arsenal- Arsenal Futbol Clube. No wonder we playing like Brazilian Serie A…

    2. That was not true. He may have rush his shot because he was in the mist of Soton defenders who are agile unlike ours and the keeper is well positioned. What is the essence of playing two players in front of the defense if non of them will stay their to protect the defense. Arteta needs saving because he has know answer to this problem. What does do with these guy at the train ground. Their is no urgency, no closing marking or even trying to win the ball back. Where is the pressing or closing down. His players just run around without knowing what to do. Pathetic.

    2. Is it me or does aubameyang look like he is playing shit on purpose obviously not the only one but it’s got to the stage now where I dont give a shit and cant stop laughing at what our club has become. Over paid players with a disgraceful and a very dishonest attitude to the fan’s who love there club. Officially the worst players to have played for us in the last 60 years. Name one of them that would get into a top 10 side and if you named one I would think you have been drinking. So embarrassing to watch

  75. Maybe this team is cursed. Something is wrong, something has been wrong for a long time.

    I’m sure Ozil is laughing right now. Maybe he is one of the cursers

  76. you guys who like picking scapegoats should start looking for new victims already, xhaka and bellerin arent playing today

    1. Gabriel is leading the contest closely followed by Ceballos. If he manages another dive or silly foul would end up in the podium.

  77. What is going on? This is not the arsenal i used to know. Maybe we can get the arsenal ladies to replace these guys.

    1. I wonder how much of the men’s team does the women’s team coach know about? I mean, it’s still the same sport

  78. Funny thing is where do we lack the most quality??? Midfield, right! What does our great manager do …sends MG on loan and throws Ozil out if the squad…hahaha what a joke. No matter if you are pro Arteta or not, you can not tell me Elneny, Cebollos and Xhaka are better then MG and Ozil in there.

    1. Actually MO has been sh* for years and MG is slower on the ball than Xhaka..You really need to give it a rest..

      1. You are joking right!!! Ozil is shit yeah right, that shit is still better then what we have. That shit played for Germany and world biggest club Madrid. MG slower then Xhaka that says it all and ends the discussion for me.

        1. Won the WC and now past his best and a liability..has been for years now except for worshipers..MG takes at least 3 touches of the ball before release. You may have amnesia but I don’t..

    2. Ceballos is definitely better than the Ozil I saw in the last few seasons. He’s tenacious, skillful and adventurous, unlike the predictable Ozil

      Unfortunately Arteta didn’t assign him as a CAM

    3. Arteta is becoming predictable. He does not correct his errors.

      Cedric Gabriel Mari Tierney

      AMN Elneny

      Pepe Smith Rowe Saka

      Lacazette

      above should have been the starting 11 today.

      Let us hope they can turn things around in the second half. this is a must win match

  79. Better players, better team, they deserve to be leading. Still easier game next, Everton away, oh hang on, they are currently beating Leicester. All the stars certainly are in alignment for spurs!

    1. And Ancelotti was available in Market
      If you didn’t want to go for Jose then go for Ancelotti..
      He was much better option than MA

  80. Yea playing nketiah who couldnt get a game at leeds says it all!

    Also were taking about Arteta but the bosses are at fault ever since gazidis left mislintat left then the scouting network was dispanded and we decided to use one agent basically in our pocket. Then the Spanish boss man leaves likely deemed at fault for.most of the mistakes.
    If anyone needs to go its Edu and bring in the experienced Monchi from Sevilla.
    I heard a Blackbutn fan say were the next Blackburn Shearer and top status to……..now look at them!

    2. @Mark
      Spot on MO and MGu arent the answers.
      The answer is start with leaders at the back middle and front.
      Then build quality through a few expensive signings of players proven in premier league that arent at their end…….Willian or from another league…….Pepe.
      Coach well and get a top draw physocholgical team in to manage the mentality.

      Tonight we need to work hard then even harder!!

    2. Both Arsenal fans and club have wronged alot of people so it can be anyone..Wenger, Unay, Athletico Madrid..Giroud

  83. What I’d like is to see Arteta joined on the training field by a few invincible players to help show what the Arsenal should be about.
    Pires again, keown, bergkamp……

    1. Nothing to do with training. It’s tactics and some rank bad players. Losing is a habit difficult to get out of. Some people can’t wait for the end of this season, I’m dreading it!

      1. Its also workmate and effort to.close down and be hungry but when losing that sin concious pack of.belief you’re not even aware of makes your legs heavier and slower.
        Its mental anxiety and stress that fatigues the body.
        Winning teams never appear tired do they?

    2. What I’d like is for Arteta to just bugger off. He was asked to take us to the top four, instead he is sinking us into bottom four!

  84. Only Ceballos, Elneny and Maitland-Niles played with confidence. The other Gunners played too safe and they were panic when Soton attacked

    If we lose, I don’t think the players could regain their confidence back. Unless Arsenal replace Arteta with a much older manager, but it’d be so unfortunate after winning FA Cup last season

    1. It’s just an FA cup it’s not like he has won champions league even then a top club won’t hold on to their manager with this sort of performance and results.

    1. 😃😃😃😃😃. We are throwing away 40 something years of record away tonight. Please who is at home again

  86. It gets even worse when you look at the bench. Who’s going to change the game for us?

    I really want to support Arteta fom the bottom of my heart as I feel all this is not completely on him.

    But he is not helping the cause by not trusting in players like Balagon and ESR. Why are they not even on the bench? If we want more creativity in the game, who do we look for?

    😔😔😔

  87. This team is so rigid, so obsessed with maintaining their formation that no one is offering any movement. Clearly Arteta doesn’t work on passing or any sort of interplay yet ppl keep blaming our players. We have a top 6 squad with a Sunday league manager.

    1. Holding, Bellerin, Xaka, Ceballos, Elneny, Pepe, Nketiah, Willian, Lacazette.

      Who among these regular starters do you believe will walk into a top 6 side?

      1. all of them except Nketia. They may not all be starters but they will make the squad. Arsenal fans are far to keen to underate their own players

  88. Karma for the way Emi, Mesut, Matteo & Lucas have been treated by Arsenal & Mikel.

    EMI should’ve been no1, he won us a few games and steadied up the back line.

    Mesut should’ve been in the squad along with Matteo, the latter the o ly one with a set to fight for his team then gets banished.

    Lucas was always better than Xhaka and Elneny so that still baffles me.

    Then we give Luiz a new deal, keep Papa for a few million and dont sign a creative player after banishing Mesut.

    We got Peps lapdog not predecessor

  90. If we do get beaten for 5 successive defeats at home, I would find hard hard not to see the owners flying into town. At least Josh. It was Josh that promised better things. He looks like a fool now. IF we lose it will have the world looking at Arsenal as a lauing stock! This is getting REAL bad now!

  95. If things are going like this we will end up in championship , i don’t see any passion from the players. saka, nketiah, willock are so over hyped players. Finally Mikel arteta clueless manager with one FA cup win he is ruining our club, and also edu he is not the man for this job, i know if arteta sacked we’ll look for cheaper option because our owners doesn’t care about this club anymore

  97. 45m to keep his arsenal career going til Xmas … but for me the man doesn’t understand the basics of the game … all the talk by Neanderthals on the site about giving him more time just don’t get it

  98. I am watching the game without any emotion, not feeling agonized, not sad no nothing. Is this just me or anyone else?

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