Arsenal will journey to St Mary’s this Saturday for an FA Cup quarter-final encounter against Championship outfit Southampton.
The Gunners are aiming to bounce back following their EFL Cup final loss to Manchester City, a fixture where Mikel Arteta’s squad found it difficult to assert their dominance.
Notwithstanding that reverse, Arsenal are still vying for a treble, comfortably positioned atop the Premier League and making strides in European competition.
Their FA Cup campaign has been effective more than spectacular, marked by a slight victory over Mansfield Town in the preceding fixture. Nevertheless, historical precedent favors them, as they have often proceeded to claim the silverware when reaching the deeper phases in contemporary times.
Southampton, conversely, are experiencing a superb spell under Tonda Eckert. The Saints are undefeated for 14 games across all contests and have gained considerable impetus in both the Championship and FA Cup.
Southampton v Arsenal squad updates
Arsenal are grappling with numerous injury worries after the recent international fixtures. Athletes such as Bukayo Saka, Declan Rice, and William Saliba are among those whose presence is questionable, while Martin Odegaard’s involvement is still uncertain, and Mikel Merino is sidelined.
With vital forwards potentially absent, promising young talent Max Dowman might be given a chance, while Kepa Arrizabalaga is anticipated to be between the posts.
Southampton likewise have challenges to contend with. Flynn Downes and Kuryu Matsuki are banned, while skipper Jack Stephens has sustained a knock. A number of other players, including Mads Roerslev, continue to be unavailable.
Ross Stewart, who netted the decisive goal against Fulham, is poised to spearhead the attack once more.