English Premier
2019-02-24 - Arsenal vs Southampton
A Sports Betting Pick by Auls
Football: English Premier League
Sunday 24th February 2019 - Kick Off 2:05pm
Arsenal
There is clearly some importance being attached to the Europa League by Unai Emery and his Arsenal team responded to the First Leg loss in the Last 32 by beating BATE Borisov 3-0 at the Emirates Stadium on Thursday. They will know who they are facing in the Last 16 on Friday with those ties set to be played in the first couple of weeks in March, but the concentration goes back to the Premier League as Arsenal push to stay in touch with the Champions League places.
The Gunners will head into the weekend in 5th place in the Premier League table and they are only a point behind Manchester United in the top four knowing the latter are hosting Liverpool at the same time. This is the chance for Arsenal to take advantage of Chelsea being out of action in the League and they can do that by improving their strong 10-2-1 record at the Emirates Stadium where they have scored 28 goals and conceded 11.
Arsenal continued their inconsistent form in the Europa League as they lost the First Leg of their Last 32 tie before winning the Second Leg and that means the team have now won 6 and lost 5 of their last 11 games in all competitions. For the most part the form at home has remained much steadier and Arsenal have won 5 of their last 6 games at the Emirates Stadium in all competitions.
Ainsley Maitland-Niles missed the Europa League win on Thursday with an illness, but should be passed fit for this one. Laurent Koscielny is a doubt after coming off with a knock during the Second Leg against BATE Borisov.
Southampton
There had been an improvement in terms of results under Ralph Hasenhuttl at Southampton, but they have not been able to shake off the teams around them and the 1-2 defeat to Cardiff City two weeks was a bitter blow. The manner of the loss would have hurt all the more as Southampton equalised in injury time and still managed to find a way to be beaten and that has seen the side slip into the bottom three.
The defeat to Cardiff City allowed them to overtake Southampton who are 18th in the Premier League table and a point behind the two teams immediately above them. By the time this fixture kicks off it could look much bleaker for Southampton who have a 3-3-7 away record in the Premier League this season having scored 13 goals and conceded 23 in those games.
Southampton have won 2 of their last 10 games in all competitions, but they had earned 9 points from a possible 15 in the Premier League before the stunning defeat to Cardiff City. The Saints are unbeaten in 4 away games in the Premier League since losing to Cardiff City in Wales and they have won 2 of those games, but losing both League games to The Bluebirds could be a pivotal factor come May.
Mario Lemina and Danny Ings are doubts for this fixture, but both Stuart Armstrong and Michael Obafemi could be passed fit.
Head to Head
Southampton stunned Arsenal with a 3-2 win over them at St Mary's earlier this season.
Arsenal have won 5 of their last 6 home League games against Southampton including a 3-2 win over them last season. However The Gunners have lost a couple of League Cup games against Southampton at home during that run.
Prediction
The top four and the bottom three positions in the Premier League will be affected by the result that comes out of the Arsenal versus Southampton game this weekend.
It is a Premier League game that both clubs will look at and see the chance of a potential result, but I really do think Arsenal are deserved favourites. They might be a little inconsistent at the moment, but in general Arsenal have managed to put their best performances and results together at the Emirates Stadium and I think home comforts will suit them again this weekend.
Southampton have not been an easy touch under Ralph Hasenhuttl, but the manager has to be fuming that he has overseen both League defeats to Cardiff City. Those six points lost to the Welsh club are the reason that Southampton are in the bottom three and a point behind Cardiff City, but there has been enough in the performances to think Southampton will work their way out of trouble.
Under the Austrian's guidance, Southampton have earned a goalless draw at Stamford Bridge and won at the King Power Stadium so they won't be intimidated by playing here.
However I think Arsenal seem to thrive going forward at home and they have scored plenty of goals during a run where they have won 8 of their last 10 games here. That includes 6 straight Premier League wins at the Emirates Stadium and 4 of those wins have come by two or more goals.
I expect that to be the outcome on Sunday as Arsenal keep the pressure on the top four places ahead of a very important March where they will face two of the four teams currently above them in the League table.
The Statistics :
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The Pick :
Arsenal 3-1 Southampton
FIXED ODDS BETTING TIP :
I'll back Arsenal - 1 Asian Handicap @ 1.85 BetVictor
