Match Pack: Saints vs Arsenal

THE MATCH

Southampton vs Arsenal
St Mary’s Stadium
Premier League
Tuesday 26 January, 20:15 GMT

THE OFFICIALS

Referee: Kevin Friend
Assistants: Simon Beck, Eddie Smart
Fourth official: Keith Stroud
VAR: Robert Jones
Assistant VAR: Stephen Child

HOW TO WATCH

The fixture will be broadcast live on BT Sport.

WHAT’S AT STAKE?

After claiming victory at St Mary’s on the weekend, Saints will be hoping to secure all three points as Arsenal head to SO14 for the second part of this double-header.

Despite an emphatic start to 2021 with a 1-0 win over Champions Liverpool, Saints remain in the middle of the table and need their third Premier League tie of 2021 to go swimmingly if they are to keep up the heat on the top 6.

Saints and Arsenal sit side-by-side in the Premier League table at 10th and 11th, though Saints do have a game in hand.

After a rocky start to their 2020/21 Premier League campaign, Mikel Arteta’s men have struck form in recent weeks and will be looking to secure their third consecutive away win in the Premier League for the first time since October 2018.

TEAM NEWS

Ralph Hasenhüttl is still without Moussa Djenepo, Jannik Vestergaard, Will Smallbone and youngsters Michael Obafemi and Nathan Tella as they remain side lined due to injury. 

Sad news for Saints fans as Kyle Walker-Peters is also unlikely to feature against Arsenal after picking up a muscle injury in training. Ryan Bertrand misses out through suspension, having collected five yellow cards this season. 

There is one positive, though, as Nathan Redmond makes his much anticipated return to the squad. 

Mikel Arteta is expected to make a number of changes to the Arsenal side that played at St Mary's on Saturday.

Ceballos and Mari remain unavailable for selection, and Aubameyang is still a doubt for Tuesday's fixture. It is likely we'll see the return of Kieran Tierney, David Luiz and Emile Smith Rowe amongst others.

The good news is that reddie is back, he will sit tomorrow on the bench.

ralph hassenhüttl

FORM GUIDE

Southampton:
Arsenal (h) 1-0
Shrewsbury Town (h) 2-0 (Nlundulu, Ward-Prowse)
Leicester (a) 2-0
Liverpool (h) 1-0 (Ings) 
West Ham United (h) 0-0 

Arsenal:
Southampton (a) 1-0
Newcastle United (h) 3-0 (Aubameyang, Saka) 
Crystal Palace (a) 0-0
Newcastle United (h) 2-0 (Smith Rowe, Aubameyang)
West Bromwich Albion (a) 0-4 (Tierney, Saka, Lacazette)

THE MANAGERS
Ralph Hasenhüttl: "The way we play is nice to watch - you can see a team that is absolutely developing their game.

It would be the perfect season if we could have the fans back in the ground."

Mikel Arteta: "They are a really great team, they have a really good manager, they know exactly what they’re doing.

They’ve been doing it for years now and they are good at it so we respect that and we expect a similar game on Tuesday."

ONES TO WATCH

Jake Vokins: With both Walker-Peters and Ryan Bertrand unavailable for selection, attention will turn to 20-year-old Jake Vokins.

Vokins made his first career start back in 2020 and marked the occasion with a goal against Huddersfield in the Emirates FA Cup.

Emile Smith Rowe: While Smith-Rowe was rested on the weekend for the Gunners fourth-round FA Cup tie, it’s likely the 20-year-old starlight will return to the side on Tuesday.

The youngster has burst into action this season, propelling himself into regular first-team action.

TOP PERFORMERS 

Inclusive of all competitions 

Southampton: 

Goals:
Danny Ings 7
James Ward-Prowse 5
Ché Adams 4

Assists:
Adams, Ward-Prowse 4
Danny Ings 3
Walcott, Armstrong 2

Arsenal:

Goals:
Alexandre Lacazette 9
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang 8
Pépé, Nketiah 5

Assists:
Smith Rowe 5
Pépé, Saka, Willock, Willian, Bellerin 3
Tierney 2

HEAD TO HEAD

Played: 95
Saints: 22
Draws: 26
Arsenal: 47

DID YOU KNOW?
- All seven of Southampton’s wins against Arsenal in the Premier League have been at home, with only Fulham vs Everton (9) winning more games against an opponent with all wins coming at home in the Premier League.

- Southampton have kept six home Premier League clean sheets this season, as many as they did in 2018/19 and 2019/20 combined; the Saints last kept more at St. Mary’s in 2016/17 (8).

- Southampton’s Theo Walcott scored in their 1-1 draw vs Arsenal earlier this season – the only three players to score home and away against the Gunners in a Premier League season having previously played for them in the competition are Kevin Campbell (2000/01), Nicolas Anelka (2002/03 & 2006/07) and Robin van Persie (2012/13).


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