Arsenal vs Southampton: 3 reasons why the Gunners will emerge victorious

Arsenal vs Southampton: 3 reasons why the Gunners will emerge victorious

Ifeanyi Ufomadu 14:04 - 21.04.2023

Arsenal take on Southampton in a must win Premier League game on Friday night as the title race looks increasingly likely to go down to the wire.

1. Bukayo Saka

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta and ace winger Bukayo Saka
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta and ace winger Bukayo Saka

Football is a team sport but when it comes to one man directly influencing the outcome of a game, Bukayo Saka is one of the best around. 

His ability to beat a man or several men, produce defence-splitting passes as well as create decisive moments out of nothing can never be overstated. 

With 14 goals and 13 assists this season, he has been Arsenal’s most dangerous player and will once again prove too much to handle for a Southampton defense that struggles to keep clean sheets. 

2. Arsenal are deadly at home 

Mikel Arteta’s men are killers at the Emirates and have been especially lethal in recent weeks. They have won their last four home games in the Premier League, scoring 15 goals and conceding just four.

 With Saka, Gabriel Jesus, Martin Odegaard, Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard, the Gunners have enough firepower to dispatch most opponents on their home turf. 

Arsenal have failed to win any of the last two matches in the league.

While Southampton showed they could cause the odd upset when they defeated Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, Arsenal are a completely different proposition and are impeccable at the Emirates. 

The Gunners have never lost a Premier League home match against Saints (W16 D7 L0). 

3. Arsenal to bounce back 

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After dropping points in their last two games, Arsenal will be looking to bounce back and will surely feel struggling Southampton offer a perfect opportunity for them to do so. 

Bukayo Saka reacts after missing a penalty against West Ham.

The Gunners led 2-0 in both games against Liverpool and West Ham and blew both leads. With Manchester City breathing down their necks, Mikel Arteta will have his men primed and ready to get back to winning ways against a team that has been awful all season.