Arsenal v Southampton Lineups and Starting 11s for Premier League Match

Arsenal will look to continue their fine form in the Premier League as they take on relegation-battling Southampton at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday afternoon. The Gunners have claimed some big results in recent weeks and come into this game after a dominant 2-0 win over Paris Saint-Germain in midweek, while the Saints are still winless in the top-flight after getting brushed aside by Bournemouth on Monday night.

Mikel Arteta’s side have coped well with the absence of influential captain Martin Odegaard in recent weeks and continued their unbeaten run in the top-flight with a 4-2 win over Leicester last weekend, before a win over the reigning Ligue 1 champions thanks to goals from Kai Havertz and Bukayo Saka. Russell Martin on the other hand has found himself under huge pressure after a horrendous start to life in the top-flight, which saw them turn in a horror performance at the Vitality Stadium.

Arsenal Team News

Ben White remains doubtful

Arsenal have had a rough time with injuries so far this season with captain Odegaard suffering a knee injury and a host of other stars picking up knocks along the way. Most recently the team have been without first-choice right-back Ben White with a knee injury, and he remains a doubt for this game.

Riccardo Calafiori started in the midweek win over PSG despite suffering an injury last weekend, while summer signing Mikel Merino made his first appearance for the team as a substitute after recovering from a shoulder injury picked up in his first training session.

Oleksandr Zinchenko, Takehiro Tomiyasu and Kieran Tierney remain unavailable also for this game, while there will be a late check on Jurrien Timber as the Gunners look to earn another win before they head into the international break.

Arteta Drops Team News Update

Speaking in his pre-game press conference, Arteta confirmed the health status of his squad ahead of the clash.

Arsenal Predicted XI

Trossard keeps his place

• Predicted Arsenal XI: Raya; Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Calafiori; Partey, Rice; Saka, Havertz, Sterling; Trossard
• Predicted Arsenal Substitutes: Neto (GK), Lewis-Skelly (DEF), Kiwior (DEF), White (DEF), Jorginho (MID), Nwaneri (MID), Merino (MID), Martinelli (FWD), Jesus (FWD).

After some excellent performances in recent weeks, Arteta seems unlikely to make big changes to his starting lineup for a home game against a team battling relegation. With White likely to miss out the back four should remain unchanged, but this could be the perfect opportunity for Raheem Sterling to be handed his first Premier League start of the season in place of Gabriel Martinelli on the left-wing.

Southampton Team News

Jack Stephens suspended

Russell Martin will be hoping that he can find a way to fire his players up and get some points on the board before the international break, with the Saints having claimed just one draw from their opening six games so far.

They remain without goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu until the new year at least, while Kamaldeen Sulemana is still missing with an ankle injury. Will Smallbone is also injured and not expected to return until after the international break, while captain Jack Stephens begins a two-game suspension for his outburst at the officials after he was sent off against Manchester United last month.

Martin Drops Team News Update

Speaking in his pre-game press conference, Martin has shared an update on the availability of his squad heading into this clash.

Southampton Predicted XI

Ross Stewart to start

• Predicted Southampton XI: Ramsdale; Sugawara, Harwood-Bellis, Bednarek, Walker-Peters; Downes, Ugochukwu; Dibling, Fernandes, Lallana; Stewart.
• Predicted Southampton Substitutes: McCarthy (GK), Taylor (DEF), Fraser (MID), Cornet (MID), Aribo (MID), Archer (FWD), Brereton-Diaz (FWD), Armstrong (FWD), Onuachu (FWD).

After defeat last time out and a poor first-half performance, Martin is likely to recall experienced players like Adam Lallana and Kyle Walker-Peters to his starting lineup for the game. Youngster Tyler Dibling should be shifted back out to his preferred winger position too, which will allow for Ross Stewart to start as the number nine after making a positive impact off the bench against Bournemouth last time out.