Southampton v Arsenal predictions, betting preview and football tips

Free football tips, best bets and analysis for Southampton v Arsenal in the FA Cup fourth round on Saturday.

Where to watch

BT Sport 1, 12.15pm Saturday

Best bet

Arsenal to win & under 3.5 goals
2pts 2-1 Betway, BoyleSports, Paddy Power

Team news

Southampton
Danny Ings is available after recovering from Covid-19. Oriol Romeu is a major doubt and Jannik Vestergaard, Nathan Redmond, Moussa Djenepo, Michael Obafemi, Nathan Tella and Will Smallbone are injured.

Arsenal
Pablo Mari and Dani Ceballos (both calf) are likely to miss out. Youngsters Bukayo Saka and Emile Smith Rowe may be rested.

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Match preview

Arsenal beat Southampton 1-0 in the 2003 FA Cup final and the Gunners are value to grind out another low-scoring win on their fourth-round trip to St Mary's.

Ten days before the final, Arsene Wenger's side walloped the Saints 6-1 in the Premier League with hat-tricks from Robert Pires and Jermaine Pennant but the cup showdown was far tighter.

In the 17 years since that triumph, Arsenal have claimed five more FA Cups, beating Chelsea 2-1 last term to cap Mikel Arteta's first season in charge.

They almost fell at the first hurdle this season as Newcastle's Andy Carroll missed a couple of great chances at the Emirates in the third round before Arsenal prevailed 2-0 in extra-time.

That game was the third in a run of five straight clean sheets for Arsenal, whose resurgence began with a 3-1 Boxing Day win over Chelsea.

Youngsters Bukayo Saka and Emile Smith Rowe have sparked a misfiring attack into life and the Gunners improved dramatically when they came off the bench to replace Reiss Nelson and Willian in the cup tie against Newcastle.

Such is the importance of Saka and Smith Rowe that Arteta may be tempted to rest them in the cup with Tuesday's Premier League fixture at Southampton in mind.

However, with Gabriel Martinelli fit again and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang back among the goals, the visitors still have enough quality to see off the Saints.

Ralph Hasenhuttl's side were disappointed to leave the Emirates with only a point after last month's 1-1 league draw in which Arsenal defender Gabriel was sent off in the 62nd minute.

Since then, though, Saints have struggled against top-flight opponents, failing to score in defeats to Manchester City and Leicester and goalless draws with Fulham and West Ham.

Their only goal in their last five Premier League games was a deft lob from Danny Ings which gave them a 1-0 win over Liverpool.

The irrepressible Ings could return to the starting line-up against Arsenal having recovered from Covid-19 but he and his teammates are taking on a tougher Gunners side than they faced before Christmas.

Thomas Partey made his first start in more than a month in Monday's 3-0 league win over Newcastle and he adds great quality to the Arsenal midfield.

Southampton have a sizeable list of injury absentees but Hasenhuttl was able to rest several senior players for their delayed third-round tie against Shrewsbury on Monday.

The League One side had been out of action for three weeks due to a Covid-19 outbreak but Southampton still had to wait until the 89th minute for James Ward-Prowse's free kick to seal a 2-0 win and their lack of goals leaves them vulnerable against improving visitors.