Recent games between these two sides on the south coast have produced some emphatic scorelines – Southampton won 4-0 on Boxing Day two years ago to throw Arsenal’s title challenge into disarray, but in two trips to St Mary’s in 2017, Arsenal have scored seven and conceded none. Mauricio Pellegrino is expected to stick with in-form striker Charlie Austin despite Shane Long recovering from a calf problem as he looks to improve that record. Arsène Wenger will be without defender Shkodran Mustafi but Theo Walcott, who scored a hat-trick against his former club in January’s FA Cup win, should be available despite a tight calf. Niall McVeigh
Kick-off Sunday noon
Venue St Mary’s
Last season Southampton 0 Arsenal 2
Live BT Sport 1
Referee Bobby Madley
This season G7, Y25, R2, 3.86 cards per game
Odds H 3-1 A 10-11 D 12-5
Southampton
Subs from McCarthy, Taylor, Stephens, Davis, Hoedt, Hojbjerg, Ward-Prowse, Gabbiadini, Long, McQueen, Bednarek, Gardos, Sims, Hesketh, Targett
Doubtful None
Injured Soares (hamstring, 13 Dec)
Suspended None
Form DLLWLD
Discipline Y13 R0
Leading scorer Austin 4
Arsenal
Subs from Ospina, Macey, Iliev, Chambers, Debuchy, Holding, Maitland-Niles, Coquelin, Elneny, Wilshere, Walcott, Iwobi, Nelson, Giroud, Akpom, Welbeck
Doubtful None
Injured Mustafi (thigh, 16 Dec), Cazorla (achilles, Apr)
Suspended None
Form WLWWWL
Discipline Y22 R0
Leading scorer Lacazette 8
