Prediction: Southampton vs Arsenal

Verdict: Under 2.5 goals

Best Odds: 10/11

Bookmaker: Unibet

Meeting for the second time in a matter of days, Southampton will once again welcome Arsenal to an empty St. Mary’s on Tuesday night.

Southampton

Starting with the hosts, after getting hit with a 2-0 defeat against Leicester last time out on Premier League duties, Southampton will take plenty of solace from their recent FA Cup bounce. Putting in a professional display over the weekend and booking their showdown with Wolves in the fifth-round of this year’s tournament, the Saints landed themselves a 1-0 win against the Gunners on Saturday lunchtime. Gaining a string of plaudits since opening the 2020/21 campaign and with some in Ralph Hasenhüttl’s camp still dreaming of a stunning European charge, the former RB Leipzig boss will now be hopeful of his side finding some top-flight stability. Despite managing to lay down the most shocking of markers as they landed that 1-0 win against defending champions Liverpool on January 4th, that was Southampton’s only Premier League victory in their previous six top-flight appearances. Undoubtedly trying to refind their Premier League level if they’re to extend their stay in the top-half of the table, it should be highlighted that Tuesday’s hosts have recorded just a single top-tier goal in over 450 minutes of action.

Team News

Not expected to make too many changes from Saturday’s FA Cup-winning side against the Gunners, the Saints have confirmed that they will once again be without Jannik Vestergaard and Mohammed Salisu.

Nathan Redmond and Oriol Romeu will also remain sidelined.

Arsenal

As for the visitors, after appearing to have turned a real Premier League corner over the past month, Arsenal will be desperate to get some immediate revenge after their FA Cup exit at St. Mary’s over the weekend. Desperate to prove that their 1-0 loss on the South Coast was just a minor blip, there is no doubt that Mikel Arteta has managed to ease the pressure on his position in North London. Finding themselves a route back into the top-half of the table and now dreaming that they can mount a genuine charge for a European finish this season, Pep Guardiola’s former right-hand man finds his squad enjoying a five-match Premier League unbeaten run. Now firmly looking up the table after their woeful start to the 2020/21 campaign, it should also be highlighted that Arsenal have mustered themselves a very impressive 13 points on their recent purple patch. Last seen on top-flight duties landing a routine 3-0 romp against a Newcastle side in freefall on January 18th, it’s also worth highlighting that the Londoners have recorded four Premier League clean sheets on the spin.

Team News

Missing Saturday’s FA Cup trip to St. Mary’s due to a personal issue, Arsenal remain unsure if Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang will return on Tuesday night.

While Pablo Mari will definitely miss out in midweek, the likes of Thomas Partey, Kieran Tierney, Emile Smith Rowe and Bukayo Saka are in line for a recall.

Key Factors to Consider

• When the two sides faced off on FA Cup duties over the weekend, Southampton picked up a 1-0 win on home soil.
• Four of the last five meetings between Southampton and Arsenal have seen under 2.5 goals by the final whistle.
• The Gunners have collected 13 points from their last five Premier League matchups.
• Likewise, Mikel Arteta’s side have recorded four top-flight clean sheets on the spin.
• Aside from that 1-0 win against Liverpool earlier in the month, Southampton have failed to win any of their other five Premier League matchups.

Conclusion

While Southampton might have landed that 1-0 win when they hosted Arsenal on FA Cup duties over the weekend, we could have another low-scoring contest on our hands in midweek. With their shock 1-0 victory against Liverpool earlier in the month the Saints’ only Premier League victory in their previous six top-flight matchups, it should also be highlighted that the South Coast outfit have recorded just a single league strike in over 450 minutes of action. With four of the last five meetings between Tuesday’s opponents seeing under 2.5 goals by the final whistle, we’re backing a similar outcome on the South Coast.

Verdict: Under 2.5 goals

Best Odds: 10/11

Bookmaker: Unibet