Arsenal return to Premier League in dire need of three points after a poor run of form.
Winless in their last four league games, the Gunners slipped out of the Champions League places and now sit eight points adrift. To make matters worse, despite being in sixth place, just four points separate them from 16th place West Ham.
Hosting 19th place Southampton Unai Emery will have the perfect chance to name a strong side and kick-start his season heading into the festive period.
After experimenting with a back three in the 2-0 loss to Leicester, the Spaniard should revert to the tried and trusted 4-2-3-1 against Southampton.
This will allow him to bring Nicolas Pepe back into the fold where he should be joined by Alexandre Lacazette and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
Pepe only train with the group on Friday (November 22) but Arsenal will benefit from the skill he can bring when isolated out wide.
With Mesut Ozil supplying them as the No.10., Arsenal fans will finally get a look at the quartet they've been waiting all season to see.
Southampton may come a tad early for Granit Xhaka. Emery made it clear that he wants to bring the Swiss back into the side but once performances improve.
Keeping this in mind, Matteo Guendouzi should start alongside Lucas Torreira. With his best football coming next to Xhaka last season, Torreira can perform well in a pair when used as the foil to the more creative playmaker.
Going to the back four, and Rob Holding could miss out on a start. Although he returned to training on Friday (November 22), Calum Chambers is a safer option.
As Chambers moves to centre-back, Hector Bellerin should keep his place at right-back after an encouraging individual return at Leicester. With Sead Kolasinac a doubt it's highly likely that Kieran Tierney will play to the left of David Luiz.
Returning to the Premier League, Bernd Leno will of course start in goal.
Predicted Arsenal XI: Leno; Bellerin, Chambers, Luiz, Tierney; Torreira, Guendouzi; Pepe, Ozil, Aubameyang; Lacazette
