Southampton FC
Arsenal FC
Arsenal FC
Southampton and Arsenal repeat their FA Cup clash three days on from Saints victory
Arsenal to win 2-1
Southampton won their weekend FA Cup match over Arsenal just three days before this clash, but their form in the league has been rather disappointing of late.
With just one win from their last six in the league, the Saints have dropped from 3rd to 9th, just two points ahead of Arsenal though with a game in hand over the London club.
Having had their match with Leeds postponed last week, it’ll have been 10 days since their last league encounter and will be eager to get back to winning ways.
Arsenal will feel a little hard done by to have lost that cup match at the weekend. Like their initial league meeting a month ago, it was a tight match with neither side really able to break the other down.
The Gunners have been on a good run of form in the league, with four wins from their last five matches, taking them to within seven points of the top four.
It’s unlikely, when two teams meeting twice in quick succession, that the same team wins both fixtures, especially between two evenly-matched sides. It should be a good game.
Form Guide (all comps): DWLWW
Reasons to be cheerful:
Cup wins have boosted confidence after mixed league form
Just three teams have earned more home points than the Saints this season
Reasons to be fearful:
Have only won once from last six league meetings
Failed to score in four of last five matches
Southampton remain an excellent side, but have suffered from mixed form in the league recently.
Their win over Liverpool is arguably their highlight of the season so far, though they’ve also suffered disappointing defeats against City and Leicester, whilst also dropping points against Fulham and West Ham.
If they still have hopes of securing European football next season, they need to start gathering points once more.
Their cup wins, including that 1-0 victory over Arsenal, will boost their confidence, but The Gunners are in good form in the league and will be even more determined for this one.
The Saints will also be without a few players here, with Vestergaard, Djenepo, Redmond and Romeu likely to miss out.
Star Man – Theo Walcott
Since leaving Arsenal, he now has the opportunity to score at home and away against them this season. He’s in good form in general, too.
Form Guide (all comps): WWDWL
Reasons to be cheerful:
Won four of their last five league matches, conceding just once
On track to keep five consecutive clean sheets for first time since 2006
Reasons to be fearful:
Aubameyang missed the weekend’s match through personal reasons
Their 23 goals is their lowest at this stage of a season since 1998-99
Defeat in the FA Cup aside, Arsenal are on a good run of form right now that will please manager Mikel Arteta.
As another London club, Chelsea, have just sacked their manager after a poor run of form, Arsenal are seeing the benefit of sticking with theirs through the difficult patches earlier in the season.
After losing five from seven, they’ve now won four from five and are on the cusp of the top half of the table for the first time since November.
Thomas Partey has made the world of difference since returning from injury recently and they are looking to strengthen further with Real Madrid youngster Martin Odegaard set to sign on loan shortly.
Things are looking up for the Gunners, but they can’t afford to let their form slip now.
Star Man – Emile Smith Rowe
Seems to be growing with each match that he plays, the young midfielder is having more of an influence on the team.
Should be an entertaining match with lots of chances
Both sides to score
Arsenal to just edge it
The Saints will have been buoyed by their win at the weekend, but Arsenal will be at full strength here, determined to continue their good run of form in the league.
It is likely to be an even, exciting match of football, but one which Arsenal could just edge.
Arsenal to win 2-1
