Arsenal predicted XI v Saints: Arteta to make 3 changes, 27yo to make first PL start of season

Add as preferred source on Google

Things haven’t gone to plan for Arsenal since the resumption of the Premier League campaign, to put it mildly.

The Gunners were hammered 3-0 by Manchester City in their first game back, with David Luiz’s error-strewn display costing Mikel Arteta’s side dearly.

Arsenal’s defence then proved leaky once again at Brighton, a late Neal Maupay goal giving the hosts a 2-1 win.

Arteta and co will now go again on the south coast as they take on Southampton at St Mary’s on Thursday evening.

As well as the two defeats that Arsenal must quickly put behind them, the Gunners’ injury list is growing, with Bernd Leno and Gabriel Martinelli now also on the sidelines.

Leno’s knee injury is thankfully not as serious as first thought, but it’ll still be four to six weeks until he’s expected back in training.

Therefore, 27-year-old back-up Emiliano Martinez will likely get the nod against Saints for his first Premier League start of the season.

In defence, Kieran Tierney could be drafted back in at left-back, having been rested for most of the Brighton game, while Hector Bellerin will likely feature on the right.

In the centre, Sokratis Papasthopoulos is back in full training but he may not be fully match fit, so Arteta will probably call on Shkodran Mustafi and Rob Holding once again.

Granit Xhaka is also back in contention after a sprained ankle but Arteta might not want to rush him back, meaning Matteo Guendouzi and Dani Ceballos alongside Bukayo Saka in midfield.

In attack, Eddie Nketiah could be given the chance to lead the line after being rested against Brighton, with Nicolas Pepe and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang on the flanks.

Predicted Arsenal starting XI against Southampton: Martinez; Tierney, Holding, Mustafi, Bellerin; Saka, Guendouzi, Ceballos; Aubameyang, Nketiah, Pepe