Premier League leaders Arsenal take on relegation battlers Southampton on Friday night with
Manchester City in hot pursuit and applying the pressure on Mikel Arteta’s men.
Arsenal vs Southampton – Friday, 8:00pm
Suggested bets
- Arsenal vs Southampton to draw
- Arsenal vs Southampton under 2.5 goals
- Arsenal 1-1 Southampton
Key Stats
- There have been over 2.5 goals scored in Arsenal’s last seven PL games
- Arsenal have scored at least two goals in their last seven PL matches
- Arsenal are undefeated in 17 of their last 19 home matches against Southampton in all competitions
- Southampton have not won at The Emirates since their 2-0 League Cup success in 2016
- Arsenal are unbeaten in their 23 matches at home against Southampton in the PL
Arsenal vs Southampton – Verdict
Southampton look doomed after losing seven of their last 11 Premier League games. And with
time running out, the Saints need to find at least four wins from somewhere to stop themselves
dropping into the second tier.
They have huge games with Bournemouth and Nottingham Forest to come and they will see this as a free hit.
Saints have been written off by most and Ruben Selles’ side might just play with some freedom at The Emirates. Saints are one of three teams that Arsenal have not beaten this season and they have already drawn with the Gunners at home.
Selles has looked at the October draw and will take note of how Saints stopped Arsenal at St Mary’s, but the Spaniard will not abandon his principles in the capital.
That said, it’s hard to see how a Southampton side, who have only scored nine times away from home, can topple the league leaders. They have done better away from home than at home and have four wins and just one draw on their travels.
They have chalked up wins at Everton and Chelsea on the road recently and could have had more than a 0-0 draw against 10-man Manchester United.
Arsenal will have all the pressure on their shoulders with Man City ominously four points behind in second spot. The pressure is starting to be applied by the champions and with that in mind the 1/6 quote about the hosts makes us uneasy.
Twelve home wins from 15 is a record to be fearful of, but two away draws has taken the steam out of Arteta’s men. They gave away a two-goal lead at West Ham and did the same in the previous draw at Liverpool where they were lucky to escape with a point.
Just what damage that has done to their confidence is unclear, but if they switch off again then this could be a huge banana skin.
A month ago this game would have proved to be a cakewalk for Arteta’s men, but pressure
does strange things to teams and Saints are capable of putting a huge dent in the hosts’ title
ambitions.
