Arsenal have been forced into another defensive reshuffle for their final Premier League game of the season away at Southampton.
Jurrien Timber and William Saliba have both been ruled out of the trip to St Mary’s.
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“Jurrien had a surgery on Tuesday morning on his ankle,” said manager Mikel Arteta on Thursday. “He’s been feeling that discomfort for many, many weeks.
“He’s been navigating through the season with that issue, and it needed to be resolved, so he’s going to be out for a while.
“And Saliba had something in his hamstring in the first half [against Newcastle], just before half-time, and again, he’s going to be out for a few weeks.”
Riccardo Calafiori was expected to partner Jakub Kiwior at centre-back, but the Italy international is not in the matchday squad.
As a result, Ben White moves inside as Thomas Partey gets the nod at right-back.
Arsenal welcome back Mikel Merino after he served a one-match suspension against Newcastle.
The Spaniard comes into the team in place of Martin Odegaard which means Declan Rice captains Arsenal for the first time.
The match at St Mary’s is set to be Jorginho and Kieran Tierney’s final appearances for Arsenal. The latter gets the nod at left-back whilst Raheem Sterling, Ethan Nwaneri and Oleksandr Zinchenko also start.
Arsenal remain without long-term absentees Gabriel (hamstring), Gabriel Jesus (knee) and Takehiro Tomiyasu (knee).
Confirmed team news
Arsenal XI: Raya, Partey, White, Kiwior, Tierney, Zinchenko, Merino, Rice, Nwaneri, Sterling, Martinelli.
Subs: Neto, Lewis-Skelly, Jorginho, Henry-Francis, Odegaard, Saka, Kabia, Trossard, Havertz.
