Having seen the back of international football in 2019, it's back to the Premier League as the Gunners host a struggling Southampton on Saturday afternoon. It's been labelled as a must win...but we've all heard that before.
Unai Emery heads into this one without Dani Ceballos who's still out with a hamstring problem whilst Sead Kolasinac is a major doubt after he returned from international duty with a hamstring concern of his own. There were unconfirmed rumours that one or two other players (Holding and Saka) missed a day or so's training during the international break but the official word from the club is that Ceballos and Kolasinac are the only concerns pre game. With Kieran Tierney almost at full tilt now, it's likely he'll start at left full back anyway. With Hector Bellerin still making his comeback on the other flank, there's been valid cases raised of late that it's now time to push Calum Chambers inside one to partner David Luiz at centre half. Whilst this is an option, I'm not overly sure it's one that Emery will consider. He effectively has to pick between Holding and Sokratis each week as it is so adding a third choice to his list may provide too much of a selection head ache, however much Chambers deserves a shot.
In midfield, Emery has hinted that former captain Granit Xhaka may return to action. There's also been grumbles throughout the international break, mainly from the continent and in South America, that Lucas Torreira is not happy with his role. This could all be hearsay for sure but in football, there's never normally smoke without fire. But with no Ceballos, one would presume that the starting trio in midfield will be Guendouzi and Torreira behind Mesut Ozil. At the Emirates in a must win game, against a side so out of form, Mesut Ozil's wizardry is a must.
We're still yet to see the dream front three start together for the club as Pepe sat on the bench last time out so could tomorrow be the time? With whispers of a small niggle for Saka, there is every likelihood that tomorrow could be the day for Auba-Laca-Pepe. Yes its top heavy but its everything we need right now; pace, finishing, prowess, aggression, directness all building to a forward-thinking style of play. With Mesut Ozil in behind there is the perfect combination of a conductor pulling the strings for an almighty trio. Reiss Nelson, Emile Smith-Rowe and Gabriel Martinelli are other candidates still looking for first team minutes as well as Saka, and Willock behind in central midfield but there is options and with the Europa League back as well, there is plenty of opportunities to come.
The Saints come to north London in poor form. They have lost five of their last six games, and although Arsenal's form isn't much better, it has been really bleak for Southampton. They've received some praise after bouncing back from the 9-0 thumping at the hands of Leicester City but they still don't score many goals and sit second bottom in the table. Personnel wise, they welcome back Champions League winning defender Ryan Bertrand after suspension whilst Manager Ralf Hasenhuttl has a decision to make over his starting goalkeeper. Both Angus Gunn and Alex McCarthy have played of late but neither have made a real claim for the starting gloves. With no injury concerns, the Saints have a fully fit squad to choose from so expect to see a defensive set up from Hasenhuttl with pace from the likes of Redmond, Boufal, Djenepo and Ings on the counter.
Expected lineup:
GK: Bernd Leno
RB: Hector Bellerin
CB: Sokratis
CB: David Luiz
LB: Kieran Tierney
CM: Matteo Guendouzi
CM: Lucas Torreira
CAM: Mesut Ozil
RW: Nicolas Pepe
ST: Alex Lacazette
LW: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang
Prediction: 3-1 to the Gunners with Aubameyang returning to goal scoring form.
@craigbennett10
Unai Emery heads into this one without Dani Ceballos who's still out with a hamstring problem whilst Sead Kolasinac is a major doubt after he returned from international duty with a hamstring concern of his own. There were unconfirmed rumours that one or two other players (Holding and Saka) missed a day or so's training during the international break but the official word from the club is that Ceballos and Kolasinac are the only concerns pre game. With Kieran Tierney almost at full tilt now, it's likely he'll start at left full back anyway. With Hector Bellerin still making his comeback on the other flank, there's been valid cases raised of late that it's now time to push Calum Chambers inside one to partner David Luiz at centre half. Whilst this is an option, I'm not overly sure it's one that Emery will consider. He effectively has to pick between Holding and Sokratis each week as it is so adding a third choice to his list may provide too much of a selection head ache, however much Chambers deserves a shot.
In midfield, Emery has hinted that former captain Granit Xhaka may return to action. There's also been grumbles throughout the international break, mainly from the continent and in South America, that Lucas Torreira is not happy with his role. This could all be hearsay for sure but in football, there's never normally smoke without fire. But with no Ceballos, one would presume that the starting trio in midfield will be Guendouzi and Torreira behind Mesut Ozil. At the Emirates in a must win game, against a side so out of form, Mesut Ozil's wizardry is a must.
We're still yet to see the dream front three start together for the club as Pepe sat on the bench last time out so could tomorrow be the time? With whispers of a small niggle for Saka, there is every likelihood that tomorrow could be the day for Auba-Laca-Pepe. Yes its top heavy but its everything we need right now; pace, finishing, prowess, aggression, directness all building to a forward-thinking style of play. With Mesut Ozil in behind there is the perfect combination of a conductor pulling the strings for an almighty trio. Reiss Nelson, Emile Smith-Rowe and Gabriel Martinelli are other candidates still looking for first team minutes as well as Saka, and Willock behind in central midfield but there is options and with the Europa League back as well, there is plenty of opportunities to come.
The Saints come to north London in poor form. They have lost five of their last six games, and although Arsenal's form isn't much better, it has been really bleak for Southampton. They've received some praise after bouncing back from the 9-0 thumping at the hands of Leicester City but they still don't score many goals and sit second bottom in the table. Personnel wise, they welcome back Champions League winning defender Ryan Bertrand after suspension whilst Manager Ralf Hasenhuttl has a decision to make over his starting goalkeeper. Both Angus Gunn and Alex McCarthy have played of late but neither have made a real claim for the starting gloves. With no injury concerns, the Saints have a fully fit squad to choose from so expect to see a defensive set up from Hasenhuttl with pace from the likes of Redmond, Boufal, Djenepo and Ings on the counter.
Expected lineup:
GK: Bernd Leno
RB: Hector Bellerin
CB: Sokratis
CB: David Luiz
LB: Kieran Tierney
CM: Matteo Guendouzi
CM: Lucas Torreira
CAM: Mesut Ozil
RW: Nicolas Pepe
ST: Alex Lacazette
LW: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang
Prediction: 3-1 to the Gunners with Aubameyang returning to goal scoring form.
@craigbennett10
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