Arsenal dey prepare to host Southampton for Emirates Stadium dis Saturday, October 5, for one crucial Premier League match before de October international break. After dem secure impressive 2-0 victory over Paris Saint-Germain in UEFA Champions League, Mikel Arteta‘s men dey aim to end their domestic duties for de next fortnight with another win.
Arsenal currently sit third in de top-flight standings with 14 points, level with champions Manchester City and just one point behind leaders Liverpool. On de other hand, Southampton dey struggle, sitting 19th place and yet to win any league game since dem get promoted back from EFL Championship in May.
For team news, Arsenal fans might see league debut for Mikel Merino, who recover from freak shoulder injury and come on as substitute against PSG. However, there be concerns at right-back with Ben White still recovering from injury and Jurrien Timber going off at halftime against PSG. Jakub Kiwior might start in place of Timber, with Riccardo Calafiori possibly moving to right-back.
Martin Odegaard, Oleksandr Zinchenko, Takehiro Tomiyasu, and Kieran Tierney still out of action. Arsenal predicted XI include Raya (GK), Calafiori, Saliba, Gabriel, Kiwior, Merino, Partey, Rice, Saka, Havertz, and Martinelli.
For Southampton, defender Jack Stephens dey miss de match due to two-game ban and fine for swearing at officials. Midfielder Will Smallbone and winger Kamaldeen Sulemana still out but expected to return after de international break. Aaron Ramsdale will face his former club, and Joe Aribo hope to be in de starting XI.
Southampton predicted XI include Ramsdale (GK), Sugawara, Harwood-Bellis, Bednarek, Taylor, Downes, Ugochukwu, Cornet, Fernandes, Fraser, and Brereton Diaz.
De match go kick off at 3:00 p.m. local time at Emirates Stadium.
