Arsenal make the short trip south to take on Southampton today, as they look to continue their push for the top four.
The Gunners have won four of their last five matches, all of which have been played with our newly-favoured 3-4-2-1 formation, and that form needs to be continued as they look to close the gap between themselves and Manchester City and Liverpool.
We should be boosted by the facts that Southampton have failed to win any of their last four matches, whilst having little to play for this campaign, as well as the being in the knowledge that our opponents endured a tough fighting 0-0 draw on Sunday, which will have taken a lot out of their side.
The Saints will have to try and stop us today without their main star, and most wanted defender Virgil Van Dijk, but Arsenal are not without their own issues.
We have fitness tests to come for both Laurent Koscielny and Granit Xhaka, who both started the weekend’s win over Manchester United, while Santi Cazorla and Danny Welbeck are definitely out. We are boosted by the returns of Shkodran Mustafi and Lucas Perez however.
Predicted Arsenal XI:
Cech
Holding Koscielny/Mustafi Monreal
Oxlade Xhaka Ramsey Gibbs
Walcott Alexis
Giroud
I expect Wenger to rotate some of the players for tonight’s midweek match-up, and our squad should be able to handle the match pile-up much more than our rivals, who may well end up fielding some young fresh players.
I can’t expect anything more than a win today, and a comfortable one at that, with our recent upturn in form building momentum. I’m going with a 3-0 win today, and I have a feeling that Lucas Perez will add a goal, whether he starts the match or not.
What are your predictions? How many changes will Wenger make?
Pat J
Arsenal can’t just afford to loose Sanchez so Wenger must keep him by all means….
Why are you guys so mad about Sanchez? Let him go!
You can’t expect anything other than a win from a game versus Southampton?! They are one of our bogey teams along Chelsea and Stoke away for crying out loud!
True, But we’re on a roll after beating our biggest Bogey in the premier league…. Mo Utd ?
Yup, mou is wrapped but it makes wengers back to his arse usual trademark smirks and gris to defy gazidas to stop messing with him with the dof crap.
Yeah, all is not well with Wenger and half the Board, there’s still a small chance of the deluded one getting forced out if he fails to deliver a top four finish.
I read that Dick Law is in Brazil right now, what’s that about?
Arsenal must sign a striker who can score goals in big matches like;
Morata
Lacazzete
Balotti.
Morata is reportedly in the process of buying a house in London, but don’t get your hopes up, his more than likely joining Chelsea.
And who said that welbeck is injured…review Wenger’s comment
ARSENAL SEASON PREVIEW , LINE-UPS, PREDICTIONS & GRAND VERDICT
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One step forward….Two steps Back!
m just tired of this man wenger, read an article on goal. com where he was discriminating Chelsea’s style of play… I wonder when this old nag wud mind his team’s business, we’ve not won sh** for many years and he’s more concerned about a title wining team’s style of play… this man lacks shame… Is this what we are gonna face next season, how did we manage to put up with this fool for so long… he never talks about how his players are all average flops, but he’s more concerned about how much manure and Chelsea bought pogba n others….
It is also a bit funny for him to have copied their formation. He also came out and admitted as much that he insists on being in charge of buying new players when asked about a director of football. He said he was too old to change. Guess we have seen that.
I know there were some on here suggesting Arsene doesn’t have the final say on which players are bought and that Perez was brought against his wishes. I no longer believe that after these comments of his.
Yup, but you ozil has always been missing.
We shoul put you in missing person milk cartons.
You talk as if three in the back was invented by Conte. Wenger has used this formation before. Plus chelsea is not the only team that uses three defenders.
Bro those people thumbing you down are d reason why Arsenal can never win d EPL n Champions League… Wenger can not even inspire this team to win d female version of d Champions League
As optimistic as I was in predicting a win over Man U, I fear now that we are playing a team that will play its regulars, we will struggle. I would expect a draw.
But I am hoping for a win.
But does it really matter?
Say a thing bout Wenger , AKB or a few others abd face the Long whip of the Law
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While things like trolls, mediocrities, Jembutarsenes etc are allowed to roam free
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Yea!….Life for you
Yeah, this jembut arsene is living in cuckoo land.
Trolling relentlessly like voyeur w@nk**.
Yay Gunner Yay ?⚪️ ??????
Ozil has again stated that he is Happy at Arsenal and with living in London. He said ” Arsenal are one of the biggest clubs in the world” and that “London is a beautiful city to live in” he also went on to say that he will be sitting down for talks at the end of the season to extend his contract.
Not worth the money he is asking . At most he is £150,000 a week. The rumours of £300,000 are just laughable. Only China would pay that. He’s record in the big games, watch him push to the floor , missing sitters , looking at the refs for a pen? Real Madrid really conned us , Ericson Ali and Wanyama cost 30 million . Mustafi cost £35 million . Jokes
One hundred mil spent and arsene got us to soxth place.
What a fraud.
Barring bad injuries, Wenger will always put out the same winning team.
He will even risk players who are carrying knocks, so even if Kos and Xhaka are only 60% fit, Wenger will start with them both tonight.?
I can’t see Wenger dropping Ozil.. like the above Pat J has.?
Honestly I would do the same . Rotation with four games to go? i would play the winning team , we have 5 finals . Benching koscielny ? Even with one Leg he is better than our entire defence .
Lol ?? Wenger has done that before ?? With Cazorla playing on one leg throughout the second half and now look what happened to him.?
Probably won’t stop him doing it again though!
Alexis should be up front
He scores more often up front
Pur Walcott and Welbeck or Lucas behind him
I don’t understand why Alexis hasn’t been playing up-front all season. He was doing so well. We have plenty of players that can play left-sided forward instead of Alexis, so I just don’t get it.
I like the lack of Ozil in your prediction Pat J.
Why Iwobi been out 1st team?