Arsenal Take on the Saints in Midweek Clash

The Gunners thus far have had a mediocre season. If you look at the it plainly, the facts are that they just have not grabbed points where they should of. Their next opponents however have done quite the opposite. Southampton have risen far higher then anyone would have given them a hope for before the first minute of football was played this season.


The Saints were picked apart during the transfer window by many clubs including Arsenal with Chambers (above). But new manager Ronald Koeman has done a great job bringing in players like Pelle who have excelled. They now sit in 3rd place behind Chelsea and City.

On the other hand Arsenal sit in 7th, but a win tonight could take them up to 5th. Goals have been hard to come by for Arsenal, but with Wenger not fearing to play Giroud, Sanchez and Welbeck all up top, the goals are bound to come. At the back with the axis of awesome reunited, fans can also hope to see a tighter defense.

The Gunners have continued injury worries and none of these would have helped there odds of winning. Nacho Monreal and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain are doubtful with knee problems, while Kieran Gibbs is struggling with a ankle injury. If you just had to look at William hill odds you would see 4/5 odds on the Gunners winning with a 18/5 for the Southampton win. My personal prediction is a 2-1 win for the Gunners. The last two games have seen 2 wins and I think that is just the push they needed to get them going again. Ronald Koeman is without the injured Morgan Schneiderlin after the midfielder sustained a thigh muscle problem in the 3-0 defeat to Man City. That could prove the difference as the Frenchman has been outstanding this season.

The predicted lineups:

Arsenal: Martinez, Chambers, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Gibbs, Flamini, Ramsey, Cazorla, Sanchez, Welbeck, Giroud

Southampton: Forster, Clyne, Fonte, Alderweireld, Bertrand, Davis, Wanyama, Yoshida, Tadic, Pelle, Mane

A few other facts about the game tonight seem to favour the Gunners.

Head-to-head

• Southampton have only won two of their 37 league games at Arsenal (D12, L23).
• Arsenal are unbeaten at home against Saints in the Premier League (W11, D4).
• Saints won the last game at Arsenal, a 2-1 League Cup victory in September, and have only lost one of the last four meetings (W1, D2).
• Arsenal are unbeaten in their last nine Premier League games against Southampton (W5, D4).

Be sure to also check the other games out tonight and the odds by Willam Hill.

Other games tonight include:

Chelsea v Spurs
Everton v Hull
Sunderland v Man City