Arsenal v Southampton: Premier League – live!

Despite his insistence on repeatedly picking the same players who repeatedly let him down, Mikel Arteta’s hand has been forced this evening.

Granit Xhaka misses out as he sits out the first game of his suspension for getting sent off against Burnley on Sunday, while Hector Bellerin will join him on the Naughty Step after he was shown his fifth yellow card of the season in the same game. Nicolas Pepe is available, however, having served his three-match ban for getting sent off against Leeds.

Sead Kolasinic is expected to sit this one out with injury, while Reiss Nelson and David Luiz could return from head injuries. Midfielder Thomas Partey remains sidelined but Gabriel Martinelli is on the verge of a return to the senior team after recovering from a knee injury.

Southampton manager Ralph Hassenhuttl has no injury concerns and may pick the same team that beat trounced Sheffield |united over the weekend.

Arsenal are hoping to halt a run of five consecutive home league defeats when they entertain Southampton at the Emirates tonight but with the Saints flying high in the table on the back of seven wins in their past 10 games, there is no guarantee Mikel Arteta’s side will be spared further embarrassment.

Arsenal’s manager has been assured his job is not in peril, while his players can console themselves with the knowledge that London’s relegation to tier three of the covid restrictions there will be no disgruntled fans present to boo them on as they go about their business this evening.

Kick-off on a busy midweek evening of Premier League action is at 6pm (GMT) but stay tuned in the meantime for team news and build-up.