Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta will be hoping to welcome Emile Smith Rowe back into his starting XI for the weekend clash against Southampton.

Smith Rowe picked up a slight groin injury in the loss against Manchester United a couple of weeks ago and was forced to sit out Arsenal's subsequent defeat against Everton at Goodison Park on Monday.

His absence was keenly felt against the Toffees, so he could come back into Arteta's line-up if passed fit.

Gabriel Martinelli started against Everton but, unfortunately for him, he was withdrawn due to injury and it is unlikely he will feature versus Southampton.

Aaron Ramsdale will start in goal behind a back four of Takehiro Tomiyasu, Ben White, Gabriel and Kieran Tierney.

Granit Xhaka made an earlier than expected return to the fold against Everton after suffering a knee injury earlier in the season, and he will probably keep his place in midfield alongside Thomas Partey.

With Martinelli likely to miss out, Smith Rowe will likely be his replacement in the attacking midfield three alongside Martin Odegaard and Bukayo Saka.

Odegaard scored a lovely goal for the Gunners against Everton, with Tierney providing the assist from the wing.

Neither Alexandre Lacazette or Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang are performing particularly well at the moment.

But, Lacazette may get the nod again after Aubameyang's shocking miss in the last minute against Everton as his confidence is clearly taking a hammering.

Arsenal predicted XI v Southampton