Premier League 2024-2025: Southampton-Arsenal, the likely lineups
Reduced from a nightmarish season, with just 12 points to its credit in 37 games played, Southampton officially says goodbye to the Premier League in front of its fans and does so in a game with relatively little on the plate, against Arsenal already certain of qualification to the next Champions League and, barring resounding reversals in goal difference, of second place finish in the league.
Simon Rusk, who has led the Saints in the last few days in place of Ivan Juric (as well as an initial spell in December, before the Croatian coach’s advent), will go for a 3-4-2-1 with Bree and Welington on the flanks and a midfield hinge in which Downes and Ugochukwu will have the task of putting sand in the Gunners gears. In attack space for Sulemana, who has been dry since mid-February.
Arsenal will instead take the field with an offensive 4-3-3, with Merino at the center of the attack supported by Saka and Martinelli, while Odegaard, Partey and Rice will be in midfield. On the flanks will be White and Lewis-Skelly, who will have license to attack when necessary. Calafiori and Kiwior will complete the defensive department.
Probable lineups:
SOUTHAMPTON (3-4-2-1): Ramsdale; Aribo, Wood, Stephens; Bree, Downes, Ugochukwu, Welington; Fernandes, Dibling; Sulemana. All. Rusk.
ARSENAL (4-3-3): Raya; White, Kiwior, Calafiori, Lewis-Skelly; Odegaard, Partey, Rice; Saka, Merino, Martinelli. All. Arteta.
