FA Cup preview: Southampton v Arsenal- team news and predicted line up

Arsenal will face Southampton twice in three days and both at St. Mary’s too.

First is the FA Cup tie on Saturday, followed up by a Premier League outing, and neither is a sure thing for Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal side.

In truth, Arsenal is lucky to even get this far in the competition, had Any Carroll slotted home his guilt-edged opportunity on the stroke on injury time. However Arsenal ended up going through thanks to goals from Emile Smith Rowe and captain Pierre Emerick-Aubameyang.

Arsenal is coming off a 3-0 win over Newcastle last time out and after a sluggish first half, the Gunners clicked into gear in the second to coast to a 3-0 win that lifted them up to tenth in the table. However, Southampton will not be easy beats and will look to take it up to Mikel Arteta’s side when they face off on Saturday.

Southampton, @EmiratesFACup and January transfer window updates…

Plenty for the boss to discuss 👇

— Arsenal (@Arsenal) January 21, 2021

Team news

Central defender Pablo Mari is the only out for Arsenal as Mikel Arteta has nearly a full squad to choose from. Several rotations will likely be made, considering the condensed fixture’s that Arsenal has coming up.

Eddie Nketiah, Nicolas Pepe, Willian, Joe Willock, Reiss Nelson, Gabriel, Ainsley Maitland-Niles and, Gabriel Martinelli are all expected to see some game time, whether that be starting or from the bench remains to be seen.

Predicted line up: Leno, Bellerin, Gabriel, Chambers, Maitland-Niles, Willock, Elneny, Martinelli, Nketiah, Pepe.

Southampton at home is a tough proposition for any side, let alone a rotated Arsenal squad, yet the Gunners are in good form and have not conceded a goal in their last five matches in all competitions and will look to continue the streak on Saturday.

Predicted score: Southampton 0-1 Arsenal