Arsenal v Southampton- Team news and predicted line-up

Arsenal host high flying Southampton on Wednesday night at the Emirates Stadium as they look to try and turn their troubled season around.

The Gunners are coming off yet another disastrous loss at home after their 1-0 loss to Burnley on Sunday evening while Southampton is coming off a 3-0 win over Sheffield United and currently sit fourth in the Premier League table.

Team news

For Arsenal, midfielder Granit Xhaka will miss after his red card against Burnley as will Hector Bellerin who has accumulated five yellow cards and will serve his one-game ban.

Nicolas Pepe returns to the fold as his domestic suspension ends after he completed his three-game ban against Burnley and is expected to feature.

David Luiz continues to train after his ugly head knock with Raul Jimenez against Wolves while young forward Gabriel Martinelli is currently the only Arsenal player who is deemed not fit to feature as he continues to recover from a knee injury.

For Southampton, it is a clean bill of health for Ralph Hasenhuttl’s side as they look to build on their strong start to the league season.

Arsenal has not lost to Southampton at home in their last 25 league games, winning 18 and drawing seven with the last loss coming in 1987 which was a 1-0 win for the visitors.

Saints striker Danny Ings loves playing against the North London side, scoring three goals in three games against the Gunners.

The same fixture last year ended in a 2-2 draw after a last-minute equalizer from Alexandre Lacazette rescued a point for the hosts.

To say that Arsenal needs a win is an understatement and a high-flying Southampton side is a tricky proposition. With the Gunners low on confidence and the Saints riding high, it is going to be another difficult night for Mikel Arteta’s side.

There should be sweeping changes made to the side that succumbed to Burnley last time out, with Ainsley Maitland Niles, Cedric, Eddie Nketiah, and Emile Smith Rowe all a chance to feature as Mikel Arteta looks to arrest his sides current slide.

Three points are a must as Arsenal simply can not afford to keep dropping points, they need to get back to winning ways and get some form of momentum going for the rest of the campaign.

Standing in their way is a Southampton side who are sitting fourth in the league and will be chomping at the bit to heap more misery on Mikel Arteta’s side.

If Arsenal were to lose then the “Arteta out” noise is only going to get stronger, even though Edu has stated earlier this week that the Spaniard has the club’s full backing. If this goes on any longer, those voices are going to get harder and harder to ignore.

Arsenal has to turn it around eventually, don’t they?

Predicted XI: Leno, Cedric, Gabriel, Holding, Tierney, Ainsley Maitland Niles, Ceballos, Emile Smith Rowe, Saka, Aubameyang, Pepe

Prediction: Arsenal 1-0 Southampton