Southampton vs Arsenal Prediction and Preview – 26/12/15
Premier League preview – Southampton vs Arsenal prediction
Maarten Stekelenburg is hoping to recover from a foot injury in time to take his place between the goal posts for Southampton on Saturday. With Fraser Forster out for the season, third choice keeper Paulo Gazzaniga has been deputising for the past two games. Ronald Koeman is also without long term absentees Jay Rodriguez and Florin Gardos.
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger will have been relieved to see Olivier Giroud was able to play on after going down holding his knee late in the win over Manchester City. The French striker has scored 15 goals in all competitions this season and it means Wenger can name an unchanged side for the Boxing Day trip to the south coast. It looks like Mikel Arteta will not be fit in time for this game while Alexis Sanchez, Jack Wilshere, Tomas Rosicky, Danny Welbeck, Francis Coquelin and Santi Corzola won’t been seen until after the new year.
Possible Line-ups
Southampton: 4-2-3-1 formation: Gazzaniga; Soares, Fonte, van Dijk, Bertrand; Wanyama, Glasie; Mane, Davis, Tadic; Pelle
Arsenal: 4-2-3-1 formation: Cech; Bellerin, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Monreal; Flamini, Ramsey; Campbell, Ozil, Walcott; Giroud
Statistics
- Southampton have won 3 drawn 2 and lost 5 of their last 10 matches
- Arsenal have won 6, drawn 2 and lost 2 of their last 10 matches
- Over the course of their previous 10 matches, Southampton have scored an average of 0.9 goals and conceded an average of 1.6 goals per game
- Over the course of their previous 10 matches, Arsenal have scored an average of 2 goals and conceded an average of 1.1 goals per game
- There have been over 2.5 goals scored in 3 of Southampton’s previous 10 matches
- There have been over 2.5 goals scored in 7 of Arsenal’s previous 10 matches
Prediction
Southampton coach Ronald Koeman faces a stern test of his managerial credentials as he looks to turn around an unfathomable drop in form. The Saints were seventh in the Premier League table with an unbeaten run of eight games going into November’s international break. But in six games since, have picked up one point from five league games and crashed out of the Capital One Cup in an embarrassing 6-1 home defeat against Liverpool. Leading scorer Graziano Pelle is struggling to make the desired impact and has failed to add to his six goal tally since scoring against Bournemouth on 1 November.
Arsenal are favourites to win the Premier League title after Monday night’s 2-1 victory over Manchester City. It’s the Gunners’ fifth win in the last six games which has also seen Wenger’s men defy the odds to qualify for the Champions League knockout phase. Arsenal have been more productive away from home this season with six wins and a draw from nine games, including the 5-2 victory at the King Power Stadium where league leaders Leicester City lost their only game so far this season.
Arsenal are showing a ruthless streak lately and can take full advantage of the waning confidence around St Mary’s.
Tips
Arsenal to win at 19/17 with Marathonbet
Arsenal to win to nil at 14/5 with BetVictor
Arsenal to win 2-0 at 21/2 with BetVictor
What are your predictions?
Click here to see more Premier League previews, predictions and tips