Arsenal have let Tottenham pass them up the inside rail in the sprint to make the top four and, while their race is by no means run, it certainly feels as if it is win-or-bust now for the Gunners. At lunchtime Spurs will almost definitely dispatch a Brighton side that embarrassed Arsenal last time out so to keep pace they simply have to beat Southampton in a 3pm kick-off. Fortunately they face a Saints side without a win in five matches so if Arsenal show up and play with an ounce of positivity then Ralph Hasenhüttl’s usual forward-thinking approach should allow for plenty of chances. Chances have so often gone unfinished this season, however. Southampton have hope to end their poor run with Arsenal’s profligate nature likely to improve only once the transfer window opens. Graham Searles
Saturday 3pm
Venue St Mary’s Stadium
Last season Southampton 1 Arsenal 3
Referee Peter Bankes
This season G10 Y48 R2 5 cards/game
Odds H 3-1 A Evens D 11-4
SOUTHAMPTON
Subs from Caballero, McCarthy, Lewis, Long, Small, Valery, Walcott, Smallbone, Redmond, Tella, A Armstrong, Perraud, Djenepo, Stephens, Romeu, Lyanco
Doubtful Long (ankle), McCarthy (hamstring), Lyanco (hamstring)
Injured None
Suspended None
Discipline Y55 R2
Form WLLLDL
Leading scorers Adams, Ward-Prowse 7
ARSENAL
Subs from Leno, Okonkwo, Holding, Awe, Swanson, Elneny, Pépé, Hutchinson, Lacazette, Smith Rowe
Doubtful None
Injured Tomiyasu (calf, 20 Apr), Tierney (knee, unknown), Partey (hamstring, unknown)
Suspended None
Discipline Y47 R3
Form WWLWLL
Leading scorers Saka, Smith Rowe 9
