Match Pack: Saints vs Arsenal

THE MATCH

Saints vs Arsenal
Premier League
St Mary’s Stadium
Sunday 23rd October, 2pm BST

THE OFFICIALS

Referee: Robert Jones.
Assistants: Lee Betts, Ian Hussin.
Fourth official: Thomas Bramall.
VAR: Peter Bankes.
Assistant VAR: Derek Eaton.

WHAT’S AT STAKE?

After ending their losing streak against West Ham last time out at St Mary’s with a draw, Ralph Hasenhüttl’s men went on to claim a vital three points over south coast rivals Bournemouth in midweek.

Ché Adams’ early goal was enough to secure victory at Vitality Stadium, with Saints ensuring their move away from the drop and into 14th place in the league standings.

Arsenal come into the tie as league leaders, with Mikel Arteta’s side on an eight game unbeaten streak in all competitions.

While Hasenhüttl’s men enjoyed success over the Gunners on their last trip to St Mary’s back in April, it’ll be a huge test on the south coast with injury plaguing Saints’ back line.

TEAM NEWS

Another devastating blow for Ralph Hasenhüttl as Kyle Walker-Peters is ruled out for the foreseeable future after picking up a hamstring injury against Bournemouth in midweek.

Tino Livramento and Armel Bella-Kotchap remain out and while Roméo Lavia has returned to first team training, he will not be ready for Saints’ clash with the Gunners on Sunday afternoon.

Ainsley Maitland Niles is also ruled out as he is unable to face his parent club.

Mohamed Elneny and Emile Smith Rowe are Arsenal’s only long-term absentees, with Oleksandr Zinchenko close to recovering from a calf injury.

Gabriel Martinelli, Aaron Ramsdale, Ben White, William Saliba and Thomas Partey could all return to the fold at St Mary’s.

THE MANAGERS

Ralph Hasenhüttl: “Every game when you win is crucial for your belief and self-confidence. For us to stay in this fantastic league, and for us in the last few years it's been a fight every weekend for every point. We can never go into a weekend and think we are a favourite and we have to take three points.”

Mikel Arteta: "I’m not in the dressing room or in their thoughts, we have experienced some really tough matches against them and I expect a difficult game again."

ONES TO WATCH

Ché Adams: Saints’ top goal scorer this season, the Scottish international has proven himself as a key individual in Saints’ attacking line-up this season.

Bukayo Saka: No player has been involved in more Premier League goals for Arsenal than the 21-year-old (four goals, four assists), with each of his eight goal involvements this term coming in his last seven appearances.

TOP SCORERS

Southampton

Goals:
Ché Adams 5
Joe Aribo 2

Assists:
Romain Perraud 2

Arsenal

Goals:
Jesus, Saka 5
Gabriel Martinelli 4
Xhaka, Ødergaard 3

Assists:
Jesus, Saka 4
Granit Xhaka 3
Martinelli, Ødergaard 2

HEAD TO HEAD

Played: 104
Saints: 34
Draws: 28
Arsenal: 53

LAST FIVE MEETINGS

April 2022: Saints 1-0 Arsenal (Bednarek)
December 2021: Arsenal 3-0 Saints
January 2021: Saints 1-3 Arsenal (S. Armstrong)
January 2021: Saints 1-0 Arsenal
December 2020: Arsenal 1-1 Saints (Walcott)

DID YOU KNOW?
- This is the third time Southampton are hosting Arsenal in a Premier League match with the Gunners starting the day top of the table, with Saints unbeaten in the previous two (3-2 in November 2002, 2-2 in January 2014).
- Following a 1-0 win in April, Southampton are looking to win consecutive Premier League matches against Arsenal for only a second time, doing so previously in January and December 2015.

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