There will be an air of change over in the south coast, as Southampton are set to evaluate their plans as they prepare to make a return to the EFL Championship. The Saints did manage to evade an unwanted record with a fruitful draw against Manchester City, which let them surpass the 11-point mark, which is the record set by Derby County many years ago.
However, there is still another unwanted record they can still set if they end up losing to Arsenal on the final day of the season. Not even Derby County lost 30 games in THAT dreadful campaign, and Southampton are now the favourites to achieve the unenviable record.
On the other hand, Mikel Arteta will be in a far more relaxed mood ahead of this clash after his team more or less secured a second-placed finish. The Gunners punched their ticket for next season’s Champions League with a narrow win over Newcastle United last weekend courtesy of a stunning goal from Declan Rice early in the second half.
The midfielder was a doubt heading into that clash with a hamstring complaint but ended up playing virtually the whole game. David Raya’s heroics cannot be forgotten too, as the Spanish keeper made some stunning saves to keep a clean sheet, and he will target the golden glove with another one at St Marys.
Overall, Arsenal will want to end the season with a win over Southampton and head into the summer with clear ideas on how to strengthen the squad using the transfer window. The Hard Tackle takes a closer look at the encounter ahead of the latest meeting between the two sides.
There are only three fitness concerns for Southampton as defensive trio, Jan Bednarek, Kyle Walker-Peters and Taylor Harwood-Bellis are all doubts.
The latter has an ankle problem, and Simon Rusk confirmed he will stay out, while the Polish defender is also suffering from a knee issue ahead of the Arsenal game. Bednarek and Walker-Peters are expected to leave the club in the summer.
Rusk is expected to go with a back three, and Yukinari Sugawara might be the chosen one to replace Harwood-Bellis in the backline. Meanwhile, Tyler Dibling and Matheus Fernandes are expected to feature in the attacking third, and Cameron Archer will lead the line for Southampton against Arsenal.
Probable Lineup (3-4-2-1): Ramsdale; Sugawara, Wood, Stephens; Bree, Downes, Ugochukwu, Welington; Dibling, Fernandes; Archer
Arsenal are set to be without William Saliba, who suffered a hamstring issue in the win over Southampton and did not feature in the second half of that clash. Jurrien Timber has undergone ankle surgery, which will keep him out for many weeks, and Mikel Arteta hopes the defensive duo will be fit before pre-season.
Riccardo Calafiori impressed alongside Jakub Kiwior at the heart of the defence last time out, and he could make his first start in the position for Arsenal since signing last summer with the club. Beyond that, there are to be a few farewells in the summer for players like Kieran Tierney and Jorginho, with the pair likely to start this one.
Should Arteta decide on resting Declan Rice, then Oleksandr Zinchenko could also get a start in what could be his final game for the Gunners if he leaves in the summer. Mikel Merino is back, while Kai Havertz made his return from injury last weekend as a substitute. The former could be in line for a start against the Saints, with the German likely to stay on the bench for this one.
Probable Lineup (4-3-3): Raya; Ben White, Kiwior, Calafiori, Tierney; Odegaard, Jorginho, Rice; Saka, Merino, Martinelli
Jorginho arrived in the winter market of 2023 and has been a big success for Arsenal, despite not being a first-choice starter for most of his time at the North London club. As he calls it a day on his time in Europe, the midfielder will leave for Flamengo in his native Brazil.
The Italian international has been a superb servant for the Gunners, with Mikel Arteta and the team likely to miss the vast experience he brings to the table. This might be the final time the fans get to see Jorginho take the pitch, as he will hope for a strong performance in an Arsenal shirt for the final time.
Southampton have failed to score in each of their last three games and now face the toughest defence in the Premier League. So, they are unlikely to trouble Arsenal in that aspect. The Saints are very much expected to create an unwanted record of 30 league defeats in a single season, and the Gunners are the overwhelming favourites to take three points.
The away side have very little to play for, although David Raya is still eyeing the Golden Glove for a second season running in the Premier League. While Arsenal are expected to win this game comfortably, they might work hard to help their teammate achieve the accolade against Southampton.
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