The two sides go head-to-head at the Emirates.
One of the big clashes of the midweek Premier League fixture list is Arsenal v Southampton at the Emirates Stadium, with both teams capable of taking all three points from the fixture.
READ MORE:
Odds Slashed For Thierry Henry To Become Next Arsenal Manager After Flurry Of Bets.
The 14 Biggest Premier League Arrivals In January Including Arsenal And Manchester United Target Marco Reus.
Opinion: Gareth Bale Should Win The BBC’s Sports Personality Of The Year, But He Won’t.
The Gunners beat West Bromwich Albion at the weekend, but have struggled in general and although the Saints lost to Manchester City on Sunday they had been in fine form up until that defeat.
As always Arsene Wenger has injury problems to worry about and here is how CaughtOffside thinks the North Londoners will lineup.
GK – Damian Martinez
With both preferred No.1 Wojciech Szczesny and backup David Opsina injured, Wenger will have to once again turn to Martinez – with the young goalkeeper having been solid in recent times.
RB – Calum Chambers
Mathieu Debuchy is back in training, but still some way off returning to the first team and therefore Chambers will need to continue in the back line having impressed so far since a summer switch.
CB – Per Mertesacker
The German has been the only regular in the back four who has been ever present this season and with Laurent Koscielny having only just returned from injury himself the 30-year-old needs to lead by example.
CB – Laurent Koscielny
Although it will be two games in three days for the Frenchman, Wenger has little choice but to play Koscielny with his options at the back woefully limited currently.
LB – Mathieu Flamini
The boss has admitted Kieran Gibbs and Nacho Monreal could both miss out which means that Flamini could reprise a role he occupied during his first spell in North London.
CM – Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain
Another fitness concern, although there is more chance of Oxlade-Chamberlain playing against his former club than the likes of Gibbs and Monreal.
CM – Aaron Ramsey
Partnering the England international in central midfield is Ramsey who is yet to show the same form that earned him so many plaudits last campaign.
RM – Alexis Sanchez
The team seem to look towards this £35m summer signing for inspiration and up against a tough side under Ronald Koeman the Chile international will need to be at the top of his game.
CAM – Santi Cazorla
With Mesut Ozil out injured this Spaniard is back in his preferred role as a No.10 and has shown in recent games that he could recapture the form that endeared him so much to the fans when he first arrived in 2012.
LM – Danny Welbeck
Although Welbeck left Manchester United because he was being played out of position too much, with so many injuries the 24-year-old is likely to be tasked with a wide role.
ST – Olivier Giroud
That means that Giroud can lead the line once more in what is a very attacking team and Wenger’s men will be relying on outscoring their opponents rather than keeping a clean-sheet.