Southampton: Saints, Arsenal team news for Premier League meeting

Southampton manager Ralph Hasenhuttl looks set to be able to call on a fully fit squad for his side’s trip to Arsenal this weekend.

With a fair amount of his players away on international duty during the past two weeks, it appears that no one has picked up a knock during that time.

Perhaps the most important team news from St Mary’s this week is that Ryan Bertrand will return and be available for selection after suspension; the England international being the only senior left-back at the club currently.

In his pre-match press conference on Thursday, Hasenhuttl said:

"“Everyone is back fit and with a few successful experiences for the players with their national teams. Jan Bednarek qualified, Pierre-Emile Højbjerg is qualified (both for EURO 2020) and a few others have scored, so they come back with some positive experiences and that’s good for us. It’s also good that Ryan Bertrand is back after suspension from the Leicester game. I have the whole squad now available and I can pick the eleven that fits perfect to the shape which we play and the opponent we play against.”"

Along with Bertrand, Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg is set to return to action for Saints after missing their last Premier League fixture with Everton.

The Dane is the normal team captain at the club and is perhaps the most vocal player in the squad at the moment.

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James Ward-Prowse took the captain’s armband in Hojbjerg’s absence but seemed to be affected by the pressure that came with leading the side out in front of their home crowd.

Another player who could be back in contention soon is Josh Sims after pictures from the official Saints website showed the academy graduate back in training following a loan spell in the MLS with New York Red Bulls.

For Arsenal, it will be interesting to see whether Granit Xhaka returns to Unai Emery’s matchday squad.

Emery confirmed that the Switzerland international was back in contention after being left out of several squads following a clash with Arsenal fans during their draw with Crystal Palace.

Dynamic midfielder Dani Ceballos is definitely out for the Gunners this weekend with a hamstring injury and could be out until mid-December, whilst Sead Kolasinac faces a late fitness test to prove that he has recovered from a tight hamstring sustained on international duty (via arsenal.com).

Both sides are under pressure ahead of this weekend’s fixture and it remains to be seen whether this team news will have any effect on the final result.