Arsenal Starting XI vs Southampton: Confirmed Team News and Predicted Lineup | OneFootball

Arsenal Hit by Defensive Absences Ahead of Southampton Finale

As the curtain falls on the Premier League season, Arsenal arrive at St Mary’s with more questions than answers – not least in defence. The Gunners, already bruised by injury absences, are missing key players ahead of their final clash with relegated Southampton. While there is little on the line for the Saints, for Mikel Arteta’s side, momentum and evaluation matter.

Defensive Gaps Expose Squad Fragility

Jurrien Timber’s campaign has quietly unravelled since his summer arrival, and Tuesday brought confirmation of ankle surgery that has sidelined the Dutch defender once again. His manager didn’t downplay the impact.

“Jurrien, he had a surgery on Tuesday morning on his ankle,” said Mikel Arteta. “He’s been feeling that discomfort for many, many weeks. He’s been navigating through the season with that issue, and it needed to be resolved, so he’s going to be out for a while.”

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Timber isn’t alone on the treatment table. William Saliba, arguably Arsenal’s defensive linchpin, suffered a hamstring injury in the win over Newcastle, ruling him out of Sunday’s trip to the south coast.

“And Saliba, he had something in his hamstring in the first half [against Newcastle], just before half-time, and again, he’s going to be out for a few weeks,” added Arteta.

That leaves Ben White to continue at right-back, while Riccardo Calafiori, who has shown flashes of composure in limited minutes, could be thrust into a central role alongside Jakub Kiwior.

Midfield Options and Final Farewells

Gabriel Jesus, Gabriel Magalhães, and Takehiro Tomiyasu remain unavailable, making Arteta’s job of rotating even harder. One piece of positive news is the return of Mikel Merino from suspension, following his dismissal against Liverpool. The Spaniard could be preferred over Declan Rice, who has also been managing a hamstring concern.

Kai Havertz, back in action after his own injury woes, is pushing for a start in the forward line, which continues to shift in search of fluency. There’s also a sentimental subplot in play: this could be the last Arsenal appearance for Jorginho and Kieran Tierney. Whether either starts remains to be seen, but their inclusion would mark the end of an era.

Looking Beyond Southampton

While the Premier League title is no longer within reach, Arsenal’s performance on the final day carries significance. For players returning from injury, it’s a last opportunity to show readiness for the summer. For those departing, it’s a farewell in red and white. And for Arteta, it’s another reminder of the depth still required to bridge the final gap in an increasingly competitive league.

Predicted Arsenal XI (4-3-3)Raya; White, Kiwior, Calafiori, Lewis-Skelly; Odegaard, Partey, Merino; Saka, Trossard, Martinelli