Arsenal will look to tighten their grip on 1^st place in the Premier League in a fixture which they have failed to lose in since 2002.

The Gunners are unbeaten against Southampton in their last 9 meetings, with the last meeting between the two ending a resounding 2-0 to Arsenal courtesy of an Olivier Giroud brace gifted to him by Saints stopper Artur Boruc.

The last two meetings at St Mary’s have ended 1-1, most recently last season when Gaston Ramirez’s drive was cancelled out by a Guly do Prado own goal.

Southampton have fallen from their perch somewhat recently, after commandeering a Champions League spot for the opening exchanged of the season. They now sit 9^th after a 7 game winless streak saw them free-fall down the table.

Pochettino’s side have 31 points from 22 games so far, their best tally at this stage of a Premier League season since 2002-03, when they had 35 points. They finished that season in eighth place.

Arsenal are in irresistible form, winning 5 on the bounce in the League and conceding just 2 goals in the meantime. They have 25 points from their last 10 games and have the joint best away record of any team in the top flight.

Team News

Jack Wilshere is set to miss the game at Southampton with an ankle injury, after playing 6 games in a row in the Gunners’ midfield.

Wilshere has been in fantastic form, especially against Aston Villa where he picked up a goal and an assist in the 2-1 win, however will more than likely watch from the sidelines.

He could make way for one of either Aaron Ramsey or Mikel Arteta, who both return to the side after their spells out injured. Ramsey looks set to make his 150^th career appearance after returning from a thigh strain, and Arteta could get some game time after resting his injured calf.

Thomas Vermaelen completes the returning trio as he comes back from a troublesome knee injury picked up against Spurs in the Cup, while rested duo Wojciech Szczesny and Oliver Giroud should be reinstated after sitting out the 4-0 win over Coventry.

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain could make an appearance after his 71-minute spell in the same game, and the England winger will be returning to the ground where he made his name.

Alex scored 9 goals in 36 appearances for the Saints during his time there, as they rose through the ranks at the then-League-One club.

No Rest for the Wicked(!)

Boss Arsene Wenger has criticised the club’s fixture schedule for the coming months, claiming that they get less resting time than any other side over the two month period.

"It is simple – look at the fixtures and analyse it. I trust you will give an objective view," the Arsenal manager said. "You will see Arsenal are behind all the other teams. In the last five years all the objective studies that have been made show Arsenal had less rest than any other team in the top four.

"That is fact. It has nothing to do with my opinion. It is an independent company that made [the study] that shows Arsenal had less rest than any other team in the top level."

Arsenal’s Schedule

And Arsene has a point..

February
Arsenal v Crystal Palace
Liverpool v Arsenal
Arsenal v Man Utd
Arsenal v Liverpool
Arsenal v Bayern Munich
Arsenal v Sunderland

March
Stoke v Arsenal
Arsenal v Swansea
Bayern Munich v Arsenal
Tottenham v Arsenal
Chelsea v Arsenal
Arsenal v Man City

Expected Line-Up

ARSENAL: Szczesny; Sagna Mertesacker Koscielny Gibbs; Flamini Ramsey; Ozil Cazorla Gnabry; Giroud

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