Southampton v Arsenal predictions: Gunners can grind out victory on south coast

Free football tips, best bets and analysis for Southampton v Arsenal in the Premier League on Sunday.

Where to watch

Sky Sports Main Event & Premier League, 2pm Sunday

Best bet

Arsenal to win & under 3.5 goals
2pts 6-4 Betfair

Team news

Southampton
The Saints will be without Armel Bella-Kotchap, Tino Livramento and Kyle Walker-Peters.

Arsenal
Mohamed Elneny and Emile Smith Rowe are sidelined for the Gunners, while Oleksandr Zinchenko is a doubt.

Match preview

Premier League pacesetters Arsenal dug deep to edge Leeds 1-0 last Sunday and they can show their resilient side once again when they take on Southampton at St Mary's.

The Gunners have been flying in the Premier League, winning nine of their opening ten matches, and victories over Tottenham and Liverpool were particularly eye-catching.

But with fixtures coming thick and fast in the build-up to the World Cup, Mikel Arteta will recognise his team cannot play at full tilt every weekend, especially with Europa League matches on Thursdays.

Including the victory at Leeds, each of Arsenal's last three matches have been 1-0 wins and they are particularly adept at picking up points on the road.

All three of the away goals conceded by Arsenal in the league came in September's 3-1 defeat to Manchester United - their only loss in all competitions this season - and they managed to shut out Crystal Palace, Bournemouth and Brentford in their other three away fixtures before last weekend's visit to Elland Road.

A lot has been made of the relentless pressing of Gabriel Jesus and the quality of Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli on the flanks but Arsenal's rearguard also deserves praise.

Arteta has been pretty consistent with his choices at the back with defensive trio Ben White, Gabriel and William Saliba having all played in every Premier League match for Arsenal this season and they - along with Takehiro Tomiyasu - can make life tough for hosts Southampton.

There has not been a lot to shout about for Southampton this campaign but Ralph Hasenhuttl's youthful side do show promise and they have collected four points from their last two games against West Ham and Bournemouth.

Arsenal are of course a different proposition but, while Southampton kept only their first clean sheet of the season against the Cherries last time out, they have generally limited the damage at home to the big guns and can do so again on Sunday.

They have lost 4-1 and 4-0 away to Tottenham and Manchester City this term but on home soil they beat Chelsea 2-1 and battled bravely in a 1-0 defeat to Manchester United.

The absence of standout defenders Armel Bella-Kotchap and Tino Livramento will do them no favours and Arsenal should again claim maximum points but Southampton will not give the visitors an easy ride.

An away win for Arsenal and under 3.5 goals looks a value bet at 6-4.

Key stat

Arsenal have kept clean sheets in four of their five away fixtures in the Premier League this season.

Inside info

Southampton

Penalty taker James Ward-Prowse
Assist ace James Ward-Prowse
Set-piece aerial threat Che Adams
Card magnet Mohammed Salisu

Arsenal

Penalty taker Bukayo Saka
Assist ace Bukayo Saka
Set-piece aerial threat Gabriel
Card magnet Granit Xhaka

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