Unai Emery said he will continue to rotate Mesut Özil but it would seem foolish for the midfielder to miss out against Southampton considering how much improved Arsenal were against Bate with him in the side. If Özil does sit out another game then Arsenal’s home form – four wins from their last four – suggests they should still find a way but Southampton have the fear of relegation to motivate them. Ralph Hasenhüttl will take heart from the knowledge Saints are likely to score as Arsenal rarely keep clean sheets. It was Southampton who ended Arsenal’s 22-match unbeaten run earlier in the season, too. Graham Searles
Sunday 2.05pm
Venue Emirates Stadium
Last season Arsenal 3 Southampton 2
Referee Graham Scott
This season G10 Y25 R1 2.6 cards/game
Odds H 1-2 A 6-1 D 7-2
ARSENAL
Subs from Cech, Jenkinson, Elneny, Mavropanos, Kolasinac, Ramsey, Xhaka, Willock, Nketiah, Mkhitaryan, Maitland-Niles
Doubtful Koscielny (knock), Maitland-Niles (ill)
Injured Bellerín (knee), Holding (knee), Welbeck (ankle, all unknown)
Suspended None
Discipline Y46 R0
Form WLWWLW
Leading scorer Aubameyang 15
SOUTHAMPTON
Subs from Forster, Gunn, Davis, Lewis, Gallagher, Elyounoussi, Jones, Slattery, Ramsay, Johnson, Barnes, Targett, Yoshida, Obafemi, Long, Armstrong
Doubtful Armstrong (calf), Obafemi (hamstring)
Injured Ings (hamstring, Mar), Lemina (ab, Mar)
Suspended None
Discipline Y53 R3
Form DWWDDL
Leading scorer Ings 7