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Arsenal vs Southampton odds and betting statistics
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Arsenal vs Southampton match preview
After recent slip-ups, it is of paramount importance that Arsenal get back to winning ways in this Friday night fixture.
On each of the last two Sundays, the Gunners have only come away with a draw, despite leading by two goal on the road both times.
First, Mikel Arteta’s team racing into a 2-0 lead at Anfield, before actually being thankful for the point they got following Liverpool’s roaring comeback.
A week later, they were involved in another 2-2 draw, this time at West Ham, but on this ocassions it was unquestionable two points dropped.
Gabriel Jesus and Martin Ødegaard were both on target in the first ten minutes at the London Stadium, before Bukayo Saka put a penalty wide at a crucial point of the second half.
Those back-to-back 2-2 draws mean Arsenal are now just four points clear of Manchester City having played a game more.
As for Southampton, they are targeting a first away league win at Arsenal since 1987.
In Premier League history, the team kicking off bottom of the table has only ever beaten the league-leaders on four occasions.
These wins were achieved by Oldham vs Manchester United (1993), Wolves vs Man United (2004), Tottenham vs Liverpool (2008) and Wolves vs Man United again (2011).
Right now, the Saints are in desperate need of points, with last weekend’s 2-0 loss at the hands of Crystal Palace their third defeat in a row.
In fact, Rubén Sellés’ side are now winless in six although, since he took over in February, they have beaten Chelsea and held both Man United and Spurs to draws.
Despite being widely written off, Southampton are only four points from safety, and host Bournemouth in a must win game this forthcoming Thursday.
Last season, Arsenal smashed Southampton 3-0, with most expecting a similar scoreline in North London.
Arsenal team news
Mikel Arteta is expected to name an unchanged XI here, with neither William Saliba nor Oleksandr Zinchenko available for selection.
Saliba hasn’t featured since 16 March due to back spasms, while Zinchenko supposedly missed the West Ham game with a minor muscular issue, so it’s concerning that he isn’t fit for this one.
As a result, Rob Holding and Kieran Tierney will continue in defence.
Goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale has kept an impressive 12 clean sheets in the Premier League this season but, bizarrely, only three of these have come at home.
At the other end of the field, Gabriel Jesus has now scored in 54 different Premier League games and hasn’t lost any of them, equalling the record held by…. of course… James Milner!
Eddie Nketiah came off the bench last Sunday, making his first appearance since 1 March, which is a boost.
Predicted XI (4-1-4-1): Ramsdale; White, Holding, Gabriel, Tierney; Partey, Xhaka, Ødegaard; Saka, Martinelli; Jesus.
Southampton team news
Theo Walcott will face his former club; only 14 men have scored more goals than his 108 for Arsenal.
In defence, Ainsley Maitland-Niles is ineligible to face his parent club, so Romain Perraud will return at left-back, with Kyle Walker-Peters returning to the right.
Joe Aribo led the attack last weekend, but Sékou Mara could return here, with Ché Adams still sidelined.
Predicted XI (4-2-2-2): Bazunu; Walker-Peters, Bella-Kotchap Bednarek, Perraud; Lavia, Alcaraz, Ward-Prowse, Sulemana; Walcott, Mara.
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