Arsenal are gearing up for a key few weeks in the battle for a top four finish this season. Mikel Arteta and his side have managed to put themselves into a position to compete for Champions League qualification, but have struggled since their return from the international break.
Back-to-back losses to Crystal Palace and Brighton have shaken up the race, putting the Spaniard in fifth, three points behind North London rivals Tottenham with one game in hand. However, with games against Spurs, Chelsea, Manchester United and West Ham all to come, it could be a tough run-in before the end.
That combination isn’t helped by injuries, with the squad looking especially thin in the absence of some key players and a number of others leaving in January. With Southampton, who are fresh off of a 6-0 loss to Chelsea at the weekend, up next, it seems a crucial match for the Gunners to regain some lost momentum.
