Last updated & checked: 10/08/2021
With Southampton sitting deep within the relegation zone and Arsenal just outside the top four, for many, this may seem like a foregone conclusion. And considering Southampton’s form this season – and the fact that they barely escaped demotion last time around – that is hardly surprising.
Nonetheless, it’s important to remember that anything can happen in the Premier League. History has taught us this lesson many times over, as it has to never underestimate a desperate team. Right now, Southampton are exactly that. Arsenal have plenty of reasons to be confident but they would be wise not to view this as a sure thing and risk an upset through carelessness.
Southampton vs Arsenal Prediction: Southampton 0-2 Arsenal
While it’s important for the Gunners not to underestimate their opponents here – Southampton’s performance against Manchester United showed us just how resilient they could be – the fact remains that there’s few who would realistically pick them winning here as the most likely result. Is it possible? Of course, but likely? We’re afraid not.
Whatever positives we can take from their season, it simply hasn’t been enough, and Arsenal have consistently put in better performances and have got the results that Southampton have not. We also think their defence is strong enough to achieve this with a clean sheet. With that in mind, our Southampton vs Arsenal prediction is the latter win by 2-0.
Our recommended tip: Arsenal win to nil
Arsenal come into this contest with a clear advantage, enjoying a 48% win probability compared to Southampton’s 26%. Therefore, it would be wise to back the away side to victory. Coral are offering match odds of 10/11 on Arsenal, but as we mentioned in our predicted scoreline, we believe that Southampton will struggle to land a single goal during this contest. With this in mind, punters who want to go higher risk to enjoy a larger potential ROI can wager that Arsenal will win to nil to get more competitive 29/10 odds from the bookmaker.
Previous matches
The history between these two teams goes way back to 1927, when Arsenal beat Southampton 2-1. Over the years, that pattern has remained fairly consistent, with Southampton’s greatest advantage coming with a trio of wins in the 1960s.
Overall, Arsenal have won close to triple the number of games compared to Southampton, and as we move towards the present day, we can see that the stats favour them there too. Their most recent meeting in April ended 3-2 to the Gunners. Southampton have managed to pepper in victories here and there, showing that a win isn’t that unlikely, but ultimately, history clearly favours the 13-time league champions.
Top 3 Premier League Bookies
Players to watch: Pierre-Emile Højbjerg & Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang
Southampton: Pierre-Emile Højbjerg
This was a tough one to pick, as Southampton’s new manager and style of play is likely to see several players thrive. However, one who really stands out as likely to benefit from the quick strike, high press tactics is Pierre-Emile Højbjerg. Although we only saw a snippet of what he’s capable of under Ralph Hasenhüttl in their unsuccessful outing against Cardiff, it will be interesting to see if Pierre can fulfil his potential under new circumstances.
Arsenal: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang
At one time, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang made headlines in the German media as the wild child of Borussia Dortmund, managing three internal suspensions for indiscipline. Today, he makes headlines for his consistent goal scoring and his creative, flamboyant and effective style of play. He and Arsenal seem like a match made in heaven, and considering we last saw him hit the back of the net four games ago – an age when you’re as prolific as Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang – we imagine he’ll be itching to score against a struggling Southampton.
