After a loss to Chelsea last week that raised the specter of other Beaten 9-0 by Ralph Hasenhuttl’s side, Southampton will be looking to return to winning ways when they host Arsenal at St. Mary’s on Saturday. They are not the only team that needs a rebound in form.
The Gunners’ back-to-back defeats leave them with very little room for more wobbles as they compete with Tottenham for fourth place. By the time they start on the south coast, Arsenal could have a six-point gap to make up for their North London rivals. Here’s how you can watch the game and what you need to know:
how to look
Date: Saturday April 16 | Weather: 10 a.m. Eastern time
location: St. Mary’s — Southampton, Reino Unido
TV and live streaming: royal peacock premium
Possibilities: Southampton +270; Draw +260; Arsenal -105 (via Caesars Sportsbook)
arguments
Southampton: Last week’s 6-0 loss to Chelsea extended a frustrating run of results for the Saints, who have picked up just one point in the Premier League since the beginning of March, conceding 15 goals in five games. With survival long since assured, but the chances of a European spot gone, there may be little to motivate Hasenhuttl’s troops, who similarly staggered across the finish line last season.
Each place in the Premier League is worth over £1million in prize money alone, but will that be enough to convince Southampton to make a late charge? There is at least one full team to choose from, although Hasenhuttl did report “one or two minor issues” in his press conference on Thursday.
Arsenal: Saturday’s meek loss to Brighton may yet be the moment the wheels of an impressive season come off, a surprisingly meek Emirates Stadium responding to a performance lacking in character and tactical sense from Mikel Arteta’s side, who are hoping to see Thomas Partey join Kieran Tierney. sidelined for the remainder of the season. Meanwhile, Granit Xhaka looks awkward at left-back, even if Nuno Tavares prefers him to a natural player; Alexandre Lacazette seems to cling to the role of starting striker by default.
“I think you are going to see two teams that are hurt,” Arteta said, “we are hurt after we lost the last two games, and we want to play and win. I am sure that after their loss at home they will want to do the same.
Prediction
Arsenal’s desperate need to win could be enough to get them through what could be a tough game for both players and spectators. CHOOSE: Southampton 1, Arsenal 2
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