Game Week 38 Predictions: Straight win Arsenal against Southampton

Relegated Southampton host Arsenal in their final Premier League game. With farewells looming, Arsenal aim to finish strong with a win at St Mary’s.

Bukayo Saka could feast on Southampton who departs the Premier League after suffering relegation, how will this pan out? (Photo credit: GOAL)

 Southampton vs Arsenal

St Mary’s Stadium

4:00pm

This is the final Premier League game at St Mary’s Stadium, at least for another full season, as they will be plying their trade in the Championship next season after relegation.

The Saints have become a better side since suffering relegation, and you wonder why they couldn’t play the way they currently do all season. It’s tough to say goodbye to their fans who would be there to cheer them up regardless; they would want to give them something in return.

Arsenal’s season isn’t ending the way they hoped for it to, but they can springboard from here and hope for a better summer transfer window, as their failure to address key positions last summer added to why they’re ending the season empty-handed.

With nothing to fight for, having secured Champions League football last weekend, this could be a charity game for the likes of Jorginho and Kieran Tierney, who would all bid farewell to the club after the game at Southampton on Sunday.

It was important for Arsenal to beat Newcastle: first, for losing to them three times this season without scoring; secondly, for the fact it was the final home game; and finally, for the fact that they needed it to secure second spot for the third straight season.

Southampton will line up to have fun, probably giving playing time to some departing players, especially Kyle Walker-Peters, and also to end the season on a high in front of their fans. It would also be an audition for the likes of Tyler Dibling, who is seeking a move away.

Arsenal could hand a starting role to Kai Havertz, who just returned from injury, and with Mikel Merino also back from suspension, it is left to be seen how Mikel Arteta will line up his side, but he won’t have either William Saliba or Jurien Timber to call on, as both have undergone procedures to fix their lingering injuries during the week.

Bukayo Saka could be immense in this one, as well as Gabriel Martinelli, while Leandro Trossard could be in there to play some role as well. You fancy Arsenal to win this one, not for anything but for pedigree and their final day tradition.

Verdict: Arsenal to win