Ralph Hasenhüttl has urged Southampton to “be brave from the first minute” as they begin a tough run of festive fixtures. Arsenal will be without suspended centre-backs Shkodran Mustafi and Sokratis Papastathopoulos, although Laurent Koscielny and Nacho Montreal came through the Qarabag game unscathed. For Southampton, Danny Ings, Shane Long and Cédric Soares are in contention but Ryan Bertrand is still out with a back problem. The hosts led last season’s corresponding fixture for 85 minutes before conceding a late equaliser. In the 12 months since, Southampton have thrown away a lead at home on eight occasions, winning just once. Niall McVeigh
Sunday 1.30pm Sky Sports Premier League
Venue St Mary’s Stadium
Last season Southampton 1 Arsenal 1
Referee Chris Kavanagh
This season G10 Y31 R1 3.30 cards/game
Odds H 3-1 A 10-11 D 11-4
SOUTHAMPTON
Subs from Gunn, Forster, Ward-Prowse, Valery, Davis, Gallagher, Lewis, Hoedt, Long, Ings, Elyounoussi, Yoshida
Doubtful Ings (hamstring), Long (ankle), Soares (calf)
Injured Bertrand (back, 22 Dec), Stephens (knock, unknown)
Suspended None
Discipline Y34 R1
Form LDLDLL
Leading scorer Ings 4
ARSENAL
Subs from Cech, Martínez, Jenkinson, Maitland-Niles, Guendouzi, Elneny, Smith Rowe, Nketiah, Özil, Lacazette
Doubtful None
Injured Mavropanos (groin, 22 Dec), Holding (knee, unknown), Welbeck (ankle, unknown)
Suspended Mustafi, Papastathopoulos (both one match)
Discipline Y32 R0
Form DDWWDW
Leading scorer Aubameyang 10