Arsenal vs Southampton

Emirates Stadium is the venue as Arsenal and Southampton go head-to-head in what appears to be a must-win Premier League fixture for the home side.

Following an eye-catching run of eight Premier League matches without a loss (W6, D2), Arsenal again look like a side up the creek without a paddle, having lost three of their last four league fixtures (W1). Despite scoring the opener in both previous Premier League outings, the ‘Gunners’ have ended up on the losing side on each occasion, dropping to seventh in the standings. So, a return to the Emirates Stadium, where they are unbeaten in their last six league games (W5, D1), comes at the best possible moment. Arsenal’s chances of getting back to winning ways look bright as they take on a Southampton side they’ve not lost to in any of their 22 Premier League H2Hs on home turf. Yet, after a run of three consecutive top-flight H2H wins as hosts, they’ve drawn their last two such contests.

In the meantime, Southampton have gone from a brace of Premier League defeats to Norwich City and Liverpool to back-to-back league draws, both of which saw them lead at half-time. Things go from bad to worse for the ‘Saints’ as they’ve already suffered 14 Premier League away losses in 2021 so far. Another defeat here would see Southampton lose 15 top-flight games on hostile turf for the first time since 2004. That’s pretty much in the realm of possibility, with Ralph Hasenhuttl’s men picking up just one win from their seven Premier League travels this season (D2, L4). What’s more, Southampton’s scoring woes remain an issue, as they’ve netted a measly average of 0.85 goals per top-flight road fixture so far this term.