Predicted Arsenal XI v Southampton in FA Cup

Arsenal will be looking to continue their recent run of good form when they take on Southampton in the FA Cup on Saturday.

Mikel Arteta’s side will head into the fourth-round tie at St. Mary’s Stadium on the back of a 3-0 win against Newcastle United at the Emirates Stadium in North London in the Premier League.

Arteta is likely to make a few changes to the team that started against Newcastle, although the Spaniard is going to take the tie seriously.

Bernd Leno, Gabriel and Kieran Tierney are likely to start, while Willian, Daniel Ceballos and Mohamed Elneny should also feature.

Eddie Nketiah was an unused substitute against Newcastle and could lead the line against Southampton in the FA Cup.

Arteta told Arsenal’s official website in June 2020 that the 21-year-old striker is “extraordinary at his age” and “has an immense personality to play, confidence, he’s powerful and is developing in every area”.

The former Leeds United loanee has made only three starts in the Premier League so far this season, according to WhoScored, and Arteta will want to give him minutes in the FA Cup.

Ahead of the game, Arteta spoke highly of Calum Chambers in The London Evening Standard, and the 26-year-old defender could get a rare start against the Saints.

Signed from Southampton in the summer of 2014 for a transfer fee of £16 million – as reported by BBC Sport – and when Arsene Wenger was in charge, the Englishman has had injury problems and has made just one start and one substitute appearance in the Europa League this season, according to WhoScored.

This is how Arsenal could line up against Southampton:

Predicted Arsenal XI: Bernd Leno; Cedric Soares, Calum Chambers, Gabriel, Kieran Tierney; Daniel Ceballos, Mohamed Elneny; Nicolas Pepe, Willian, Gabriel Martinelli; Eddie Nketiah

In other news, Carragher claims one Liverpool star just kept running straight into Burnley’s defenders