Mikel Arteta and Arsenal face an important clash this weekend when Southampton make the visit to the Emirates, so let’s take a look at the team news.
Things seemed to be going smoothly, but consecutive defeats to Manchester United and Everton have left the Gunners reeling. It has allowed their rivals to gain some momentum which is key during this time of the season. A win on Saturday is necessary for the north Londoners to get some confidence ahead of the festive period.
The major absentee on Monday was midfielder Emile Smith Rowe who is suffering from a groin issue. The Englishman is being assessed ahead of tomorrow’s game and it would be a big boost if he is declared fit.
One player that is available and ready to play is Gabriel Martinelli, who was substituted at Goodison Park. The two players who are not going to be playing any part in this game are Bernd Leno and Sead Kolasinac. The German should be back soon, but the Bosnian defender will return only in the month of January.
Arsenal Fever View:
Though the Saints are near the bottom of the table, they can cause a lot of damage. Their intense style of pressing is something that will concern the Gunners and they need to find a way around it. If they can do that, it increases their chances of winning.
Another factor that has to click for the hosts is the performance of the striker who plays upfront. Whether it is Alexandre Lacazette or Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, as the duo have struggled in front of goal recently. They need to find their shooting boots, or it could come back to hurt Arteta.
For Arsenal, the equation is simple as they absolutely have to win. Though that might increase the pressure on them, they cannot afford to keep dropping more points. Southampton are a good team with a lot of exciting talents, but they should be no match for the firepower that the Gunners possess. After a disappointing couple of games, the manager would be hoping that his side can get back to winning ways.
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