How Arsenal could line up against Southampton

9:21am on Monday 25th January 2021
By Nicholas Hughes

After a busy week in the transfer market, Arsenal will get a second chance within a week to defeat Southampton at St. Mary’s as they prepare to do battle in the Premier League on Tuesday.

The Saints knocked Arsenal out of the FA Cup with a 1-0 win on Saturday afternoon and will be out to distance themselves from the Gunners in the league table with another win.

Mikel Arteta secured the services of Australian goalkeeper Mathew Ryan on loan last week, but his is likely to be a back-up role and Bernd Leno should remain in goal.

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The Spaniard rotated slightly for the cup clash, but Kieran Tierney and David Luiz should come back in to form what has become a consistent back four for Arsenal in recent weeks.

Thomas Partey impressed in the 3-0 win against Newcastle in the last league clash, his first game since injury, and is expected to start again alongside Granit Xhaka.

Arsenal fans will be hanging on every bit of news they can receive regarding Martin Odegaard as the Norwegian continues to work on a loan move to the Emirates Stadium from Real Madrid.

However with the move yet to be confirmed, the 22-year-old is unlikely to feature at all in this clash, with sights instead set for a big game against Manchester United on Sunday for a possible debut – if the deal gets over the line.

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That will allow Emile Smith-Rowe to continue his brilliant form in the Premier League. The 20-year-old registered a brilliant assist against Newcastle, a third in just five league games, and should take up a position in midfield again.

Alongside him will likely be Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Bukayo Saka and Alexandre Lacazette, completing an attacking quartet that has featured in the last three league games in which the Gunners have scored seven goals.

That would make an unchanged XI from the win over the Magpies as the Gunners chase a sixth league game unbeaten in their pursuit to return to the European places.