Arsenal’s 2024/25 campaign concludes at St. Mary’s on Sunday, as they take on bottom-of-the-table Southampton in the Premier League.
The Gunners ensured a relaxing final day by edging past Newcastle 1-0 last weekend, guaranteeing their spot in next season’s Champions League. Unless there’s an eight-goal swing on Sunday with Arsenal beaten, Mikel Arteta’s men will finish second for the third campaign running.
Alba raves about ‘different maker’ Yamal after Barca’s LaLiga triumph Southampton vs Arsenal: Preview, Prediction & Lineups Arsenal visit bottom-of-the-table Southampton on the final day of the 2024/25 Premier League season. By James Cormack | 6 hours ago Arsenal visit Southampton on the final day Arsenal visit Southampton on the final day | Shaun Botterill/GettyImages Arsenal’s 2024/25 campaign concludes at St. Mary’s on Sunday, as they take on bottom-of-the-table Southampton in the Premier League. The Gunners ensured a relaxing final day by edging past Newcastle 1-0 last weekend, guaranteeing their spot in next season’s Champions League. Unless there’s an eight-goal swing on Sunday with Arsenal beaten, Mikel Arteta’s men will finish second for the third campaign running. They’re facing a Southampton team that long threatened to end the season as the Premier League’s worst-ever side. However, Simon Rusk, during his second interim spell, has helped the Saints creep beyond Derby County’s all-time low points haul of 11. Sunday’s hosts earned a 0-0 draw with Manchester City two weeks ago which helped them up to 12. Still, a procession is expected for the visitors on the final day, as they aim to end what’s been a disappointing season on a high ahead of a crucial summer. Here’s our preview of Southampton vs Arsenal in the Premier League.
Southampton vs Arsenal: Preview, Prediction & Lineups
Albert Gronbaek, Charlie Taylor, and Ryan Fraser are all likely to remain sidelined on the final day after enduring spells out through injury down the stretch. Gronbaek has barely featured since joining the club from Rennes in January.
Kyle Walker-Peters should be okay to play despite suffering from an illness, while Jan Bednarek is a doubt after picking up a knock earlier this month. Taylor Harwood-Bellis misses out due to an ankle injury sustained at Everton.
We could see a similar XI from last week’s team at Goodison Park, although Lesley Ugochukwu should return to partner Flynn Downes in the middle of the park.
Predicted Southampton lineup vs Arsenal: Ramsdale; Wood, Bednarek, Stephens; Walker-Peters, Ugochukwu, Downes, Welington; Downes, Fernandes; Sulemana.
The boss confirmed in the week that William Saliba and Jurrien Timber will miss Sunday’s game. While Saliba picked up a hamstring injury in last week’s win at Newcastle, Timber has undergone minor ankle surgery.
The Dutchman hasn’t featured in Arsenal’s two previous league outings, and Ben White is a certainty to retain his place at right-back on the final day. In Saliba’s absence, Riccardo Calafiori is likely to partner Jakub Kiwior with Gabriel still out.
Kai Havertz made his first appearance since February last Sunday and is in contention to start here. Mikel Merino can also make his comeback from a brief suspension. Arteta will likely hand minutes to Jorginho and Kieran Tierney on their final outings for the club.
Southampton vs Arsenal score prediction
Arsenal have made a habit of strolling to victory on the final day in recent years, and this should be another seamless victory for the Gunners.
While Southampton kept City at bay on their previous home outing, we shouldn’t expect a repeat of such resistance with the visitors requiring a mere moment of quality to break the game open. They’ve had their woes in the final third this season, but I can envisage a battering on the south coast.
Maybe a change of defensive personnel hands the Saints one final Premier League goal before they return to the second tier, but we should expect Arteta’s men to enjoy themselves here.
