Frank Christian
This weekend, Arsenal will face off against a struggling Southampton team in their last Premier League game before the upcoming international break in October.
After an impressive 2-0 win against Paris Saint-Germain in the UEFA Champions League recently, Arsenal aims to maintain their momentum and secure another victory against Russell Martin’s squad.
Currently, the Gunners are in third place in the league, tied on 14 points with title holders Manchester City and just one point behind leaders Liverpool. In contrast, Southampton sits at the bottom of the table in 19th position and has yet to secure a win since their return from the EFL Championship in May.
Arsenal supporters might expect to see one of their new signings making a league debut, while Southampton will be without a significant player. Check out the latest team updates and anticipated lineups below.
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Arsenal vs. Southampton: Team News and Predicted Lineups
Mikel Arteta may give a league debut to Mikel Merino, who recently returned from a shoulder injury and played as a substitute against PSG. His last Premier League appearance was in May 2018 for Newcastle United.
There are concerns in defense, with Ben White still sidelined and Jurrien Timber taken off early in the PSG match. Jakub Kiwior may take Timber’s place in the starting lineup, potentially shifting Riccardo Calafiori to the right back position.
The Gunners will also miss Martin Odegaard along with Oleksandr Zinchenko, Takehiro Tomiyasu, and Kieran Tierney.
Predicted Arsenal XI (4-3-3): Raya (GK) — Calafiori, Saliba, Gabriel, Kiwior — Merino, Partey, Rice — Saka, Havertz, Martinelli
Injured Players: Zinchenko, Tierney, Odegaard, White (doubtful), Timber (doubtful)
Suspensions: None
Southampton will be without defender Jack Stephens, who faces a two-match suspension for inappropriate conduct towards officials after his red card against Manchester United.
Additionally, midfielder Will Smallbone and winger Kamaldeen Sulemana remain unavailable, though both are expected to recover after the international break.
Aaron Ramsdale will face his former team, with Joe Aribo aiming for a spot in the starting XI following his substitution appearance during the last match against Bournemouth.
Predicted Southampton XI (4-2-3-1): Ramsdale (GK) — Sugawara, Harwood-Bellis, Bednarek, Taylor — Downes, Ugochukwu — Cornet, Fernandes, Fraser — Brereton Diaz
Injured Players: Smallbone, Sulemana, Bazunu
Suspension: Stephens
Kickoff Information for Arsenal vs. Southampton
This encounter will take place at the Emirates Stadium in London, UK, with kick-off scheduled for Saturday, October 5, at 3:00 p.m. local time.
Below is the kickoff time converted to several major global regions:
| Date | Kickoff Time | |
| USA | Sat, Oct. 5 | 10:00 a.m. ET |
| Canada | Sat, Oct. 5 | 10:00 a.m. ET |
| Australia | Sun, Oct. 6 | 12:00 a.m. AEST |
| UK | Sat, Oct. 5 | 3:00 p.m. BST |
| India | Sat, Oct. 5 | 7:30 p.m. IST |
