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How Arsenal could line up against Southampton

How Arsenal could line up against Southampton
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Sports Mole takes an in-depth look at how Arsenal could line up for Saturday's Premier League clash with Southampton.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta will hope to welcome Emile Smith Rowe back to the fold for Saturday's Premier League clash with Southampton at the Emirates.

The Gunners' top scorer missed the recent defeat to Everton due to a tight groin, but Arteta expects him to be fine for Saturday's contest, which is more than can be said for Sead Kolasinac.

Gabriel Martinelli is also fine despite his scare at Goodison Park, while second-choice goalkeeper Bernd Leno is a doubt with groin tightness.

After a spell of games on the bench, Kieran Tierney returned to the first XI against Everton and is sure to hold his place in an unchanged backline, with Nuno Tavares now among the substitutes.

Granit Xhaka surprisingly played the entire game at Goodison Park despite only just returning from a serious knee problem, and he is set to join the under-performing Thomas Partey once again.

Smith Rowe, Martin Odegaard and Bukayo Saka are set to operate behind the striker if the former is passed fit, but Arteta has a big selection headache up top.

Eddie Nketiah and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang both missed gilt-edged chances as substitutes in the Everton defeat, and Alexandre Lacazette did not cover himself in glory from the first whistle, so Martinelli may start up top with Aubameyang reportedly set to miss the game.

Arsenal possible starting lineup: Ramsdale; Tomiyasu, White, Gabriel, Tierney; Xhaka, Partey; Saka, Odegaard, Smith Rowe; Martinelli

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How you voted: Arsenal vs Southampton

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Draw
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Southampton
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Gabriel Martinelli goes down injured for Arsenal against Everton on December 6, 2021
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Mikel Arteta "not very positive" about Gabriel Martinelli injury
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Tables
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Manchester CityMan City1814224493544
2Liverpool18125150153541
3Chelsea18115239122738
4Arsenal1810262723432
5West Ham UnitedWest Ham178452821728
6Manchester UnitedMan Utd168352624227
7Tottenham HotspurSpurs158251819-126
8Wolverhampton WanderersWolves187471314-125
9Leicester CityLeicester166462727022
10Aston Villa177192325-222
11Crystal Palace174852424020
12Brentford165562122-120
13Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton164841417-320
14Everton175482129-819
15Southampton173861626-1017
16Leeds UnitedLeeds183781836-1816
17Watford1641112131-1013
18Burnley151861421-711
19Newcastle UnitedNewcastle1817101841-2310
20Norwich CityNorwich172411834-2610

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