The Arsenal Gunners and Southampton Saints are playing on the English Premier League Tuesday schedule and the game from the NBC Sports Network Live Extra website starts at 2:45 pm ET from Emirates Stadium and comes as Southampton is looking to stay in the top part of the EPL heading into the back stretch of December.
Arsenal is looking to get back into the mix at the top of the table after finishing in fourth place last year and Arsene Wenger is looking for more consistent play. The Gunners qualified for the Champions League by finishing in the top four last season and they were in the lead for the first part of the year before faltering down the stretch. Arsenal now has the chance to bounce back but they have Nacho Monreal and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain likely out with knee injuries, while Kieran Gibbs has an ankle issue.
Southampton lost last week to Manchester City at home and now they have the chance to rebound and it comes after a strong start for the team. The loss to Man City hurts because the teams are close in the standings, but Southampton is still clear for the moment over Manchester United, who won on Tuesday to keep their streak going. The Saints are hopeful not to lose two in a row and this comes after their worst loss of the season so far and they have been one of the surprises this year.
Arsenal has been dominant against Southampton at home in the Premier League and they have not lost a match in EPL play against the team. The Saints would love for at least a point from this match, as the schedule picks up for everyone this month and that gives teams like the Gunners the chance to keep moving up. The Saints last won at Arsenal in a League Cup game and they are looking to get a win on the road, while the Gunners need to take care of business at home.
The Gunners have been giving up goals at home this season and they are now 11 points worse than they were last season at this same time. Last year they were first in the EPL on the Premier League table and now they come in at seventh on the standings. Arsenal has won only one of the last five games at home in league play and they have trailed in five of the past six league games at home. Danny Welbeck comes in after scoring against West Brom, while Olivier Giroud has scored three games in the last two games against Southampton.
Arsenal has a game coming up against Stoke City after playing Southampton, while Newcastle and Liverpool are next. The Reds matchup is at Anfield, while Arsenal then has QPR, West Ham and then Southampton again on New Years Day. The December schedule is wild and now Arsenal has the chance to move up on the Premier League standings.
Check here for the Arsenal Gunners and Southampton live coverage.
