Arsenal have the perfect chance to get title bid back on track

On the face of it, Arsenal could ask for nothing more than a home game against bottom-of-the-table Southampton to get over their current, untimely blip.

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And while football loves to throw in the unexpected, this Friday night really does look ideal for the Gunners after chucking away back-to-back two-goal leads on the road, dropping four points and suddenly seeing the Manchester City juggernaut filling their rear-view mirror.

The one area of concern for the leaders is the previously watertight defence, which has shipped six goals in four matches in the absence of William Saliba, who will miss another game tonight and could yet be out for the season. On a positive note, Oleksandr Zinchenko could be back on the left.

But in attacking areas Arsenal will be confident of having far too much for a Southampton team who have failed to win in six, despite the best efforts of star man and captain James Ward-Prowse – whose set-piece skills could be crucial to any hopes of springing a surprise and offering a lifeline in their battle against the drop.

The basement boys will also have to be clinical if they get a sniff this time after Carlos Alcaraz spurned a couple of big chances in last weekend’s 2-0 defeat at home to Crystal Palace.

However, Bukayo Saka could be the man to send Saints hurtling even more directly towards the trapdoor.

His penalty miss moments before West Ham levelled on Sunday was a rare blemish in an outstanding season and he could be climbing the walls in desperation to put that firmly behind him tonight.

Martin Odegaard’s cool, calm presence pulling the Gunners strings will also be crucial as they look to ensure the wheels do not come off what has been an excellent campaign.

Big-match stats

3 Arsenal players in double figures for goals this term – Gabriel Martinelli (14), Bukayo Saka (13) and Martin Odegaard (11)

51 points separate leaders Arsenal from Southampton at the foot of the table after 31 games

23 times Southampton have played at Arsenal in the Premier League – they have no wins but seven draws

4 Points Saints took off Arsenal at St Mary’s in 2022 – winning 1-0 last April and drawing 1-1 in October

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