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Southampton v Arsenal: probable starters in bold, contenders in light.
Southampton v Arsenal: probable starters in bold, contenders in light. Photograph: Guardian
Southampton v Arsenal: probable starters in bold, contenders in light. Photograph: Guardian

Southampton v Arsenal: match preview

This article is more than 6 years old

Recent games between these two sides on the south coast have produced some emphatic scorelines – Southampton won 4-0 on Boxing Day two years ago to throw Arsenal’s title challenge into disarray, but in two trips to St Mary’s in 2017, Arsenal have scored seven and conceded none. Mauricio Pellegrino is expected to stick with in-form striker Charlie Austin despite Shane Long recovering from a calf problem as he looks to improve that record. Arsène Wenger will be without defender Shkodran Mustafi but Theo Walcott, who scored a hat-trick against his former club in January’s FA Cup win, should be available despite a tight calf. Niall McVeigh

Kick-off Sunday noon

Venue St Mary’s

Last season Southampton 0 Arsenal 2

Live BT Sport 1

Referee Bobby Madley

This season G7, Y25, R2, 3.86 cards per game

Odds H 3-1 A 10-11 D 12-5

Southampton

Subs from McCarthy, Taylor, Stephens, Davis, Hoedt, Hojbjerg, Ward-Prowse, Gabbiadini, Long, McQueen, Bednarek, Gardos, Sims, Hesketh, Targett

Doubtful None

Injured Soares (hamstring, 13 Dec)

Suspended None

Form DLLWLD

Discipline Y13 R0

Leading scorer Austin 4

Arsenal

Subs from Ospina, Macey, Iliev, Chambers, Debuchy, Holding, Maitland-Niles, Coquelin, Elneny, Wilshere, Walcott, Iwobi, Nelson, Giroud, Akpom, Welbeck

Doubtful None

Injured Mustafi (thigh, 16 Dec), Cazorla (achilles, Apr)

Suspended None

Form WLWWWL

Discipline Y22 R0

Leading scorer Lacazette 8

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