Southampton vs Arsenal preview – How to watch the Premier League clash on TV, team news & prediction

Southampton face Arsenal on Friday at the Emirates Stadium in what could be another nail in the relegation coffin.

The league-bottom Saints travel to North London to face leaders Arsenal Friday evening in desperate need of a shock result to provide some hope of Premier League survival. Even after last week’s flat loss to high-flying Crystal Palace, Ruben Selles’ men are still (shockingly) only four points away from safety with seven games to play.

Arsenal are also on a comparatively poor run of form, having been held to a draw against Liverpool and West Ham in their previous two games. In both games Arsenal went up two-nil early, only to give up the lead in the second half.

Once again the Saints catch an opponent at the wrong time, as the Gunners and Mikel Arteta will be motivated to win to add to their four-point cushion on last season’s champions Manchester City ahead of their highly anticipated clash next week.

James Ward-Prowse and company will be devastated after poor showings in must-win relegation battles against Crystal Palace and West Ham. But some confidence will stem from the reverse fixture, where they held Arsenal to just three shots on target in a one-one draw at St. Mary’s. The Saints would be delighted to escape the Emirates with a point intact.

Southampton vs Arsenal preview – How to watch the Premier League clash on TV, team news & prediction

Here’s our preview of Friday’s Premier League clash between the Saints and the Gunners at the Emirates.

Southampton vs Arsenal: Team News and Predicted Lineups

Southampton come into the game with injury doubts – Mohammed Salisu and Mislav Orsic are unlikely to feature. Juan Larios is also out with a long-term issue, and while he made a long awaited return to the B team last week, talented youngster Valentino Livramento is not expected to be in the squad as he returns to full fitness. Loanee Ainsley Maitland-Niles is ineligible to play against his parent club. Che Adams has been out since the international break, but could make a return to the side Friday.

Saints Predicted Lineup: Bazunu, Perraud, Bella-Kotchap, Bednarek, Walker-Peters, Ward-Prowse, Lavia, Alcaraz, Sulemana

Injuries have put a dent into Arsenal’s backline in recent games, with first-choice players Olekzandr Zinchenko and William Saliba both missing their last game. According to The Sun, Zinchenko has returned to training and could feature on Friday. Capable backup Takehiro Tomiyasu is out for the remainder of the season. With the league-leading Gunners ramping up to face challengers Manchester City mid-week, expect some rotation to keep players fresh.

Arsenal Predicted Lineup: Ramsdale, White, Holding, Gabriel, Tierney, Jorginho, Partey, Odegaard, Trossard, Saka, Nketiah

Saints’ Recent Form

Southampton 0-2 Crystal Palace (15/04)

Southampton 1-4 Manchester City (08/04)

West Ham 1-0 Southampton (02/04)

Southampton 3-3 Tottenham (18/03)

Southampton 0-2 Brentford (15/03)

Arsenal’s Recent Form

West Ham 2-2 Arsenal (16/04)

Liverpool 2-2 Arsenal (09/04)

Arsenal 4-1 Leeds United (01/04)

Arsenal 4-1 Crystal Palace (19/03)

Arsenal 1-1 Sporting (p) (Europa League, 16/03)

Where to Watch Southampton vs Arsenal

Kickoff: Friday April 21st, 8pm BST

Location: The Emirates Stadium

TV and Streaming: In the UK the game will be shown on Sky Sports and the Sky Go app. In the USA it will be shown on the USA network.

Prediction

As much as Saints fans want to see their side come away with a massive three points, it looks an impossible ask to come away with a result against an incredibly talented Arsenal side.

Selles’ side have started recent games very brightly, including the last two defeats against Crystal Palace and Manchester City, but their inability to find quality in the final third has cost them dearly. Arsenal on the other hand have come flying out of the gates in their last two matches, only to concede second-half equalizers.

Expect Arsenal to attack early a Southampton side in crisis, while the Saints try to utilize their trademark high press to spark counter-attacking chances. However, Arsenal’s superior quality will eventually wear out a shaky Southampton backline.

Prediction: Arsenal 4-1 Southampton