Game Week 32 Predictions: Arsenal must beat Southampton

Game Week 32 Predictions: Arsenal must beat Southampton to keep title winning hopes alive - Premier League Preview, Betting tips, Team news

James Ward Prowse could be immense for the visitors when Southampton visits the Emirates on Friday, will he have some joy against the league leaders? (Photo credit: Sky Sports)

 Arsenal vs. Southampton

Emirates Stadium

8:00pm

The Gunners have lost their advantage at the top but still maintain a four-point lead over Manchester City, which has raised apprehension and that déjà vu feeling among fans and neutrals.

Arsenal was forced into back-to-back 2-2 draws at Anfield against Liverpool and at the London Stadium against West Ham.

Losing two-goal leads can be troubling, especially with City right behind you, but Mikel Arteta believes it’s not over for the Gunners.

Southampton isn’t in the best of places at the moment, and it doesn’t look like it will get better for Ruben Selles’ side anytime soon.

An away fixture against the wounded leaders with all to play for isn’t what you want, but you have to do things the hard way when you’re right there at the bottom.

Crystal Palace went to St. Mary’s Stadium last weekend and returned with all three points, leaving Southampton empty and now in real danger of dropping to the championship league.

Seven points from safety with seven to play is not exactly impossible, but can the Saints do it?

Arsenal will be without William Saliba, who continues to heal from a back problem, and Alex Zinchenko, who isn’t ready to feature after his injury at Liverpool.

A host of names won’t feature for Southampton either, like Che Adams and Maitland Niles, who cannot play against their parent club.

Arsenal is the clear favourite here, and all things being equal, their fast start could well lead them to greatness.

But will they sustain the pressure or pull the handbrake as early as they have in their last two away games?

Arsenal also continues to concede; the absence of Saliba and the poor concentration at the back meant they shipped goals more often than not. What does this mean for the title race?

Can the Saints capitalise on this to hurt their hosts?

Southampton forced Arsenal to a 1-1 draw at St. Mary’s earlier in the season.

They were one of the few clubs to have stopped Arsenal from winning, having scored the opener at that stage, but can they do it again, or will Arsenal find the magic to restore their title hopes?

Watch out for Bukayo Saka, the star boy who lost the penalty that handed the advantage to the Hammers last weekend.

He’s had two weekends of blanks, and he is expected to pick things up and lead from the front alongside Gabriel Jesus and Gabriel Martinelli.

Southampton’s place in the Premier League is under threat, and if they are to survive the drop, they need points from games like this one.

Will Arsenal’s will to win the title suffer here or overpower the resilience of their relegation-threatened visitors?

Verdict: Arsenal to win