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[Confirmed teams] Southampton vs Arsenal: Pepe & Nketiah start, Ozil misses out again

By on June 25, 2020

nicolas pepe arsenal

Arsenal are back on the south coast as we take on Southampton at St Mary’s Stadium this evening.

Mesut Ozil is yet to make an appearance since the restart and the German remains on the bench tonight while Alexandre Lacazette drops out with Eddie Nketiah getting a recall to start up front.

Once again, it looks like Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang will play from the wing rather than in his best position through the middle but at least Nicolas Pepe has kept his place after scoring a fine goal against Brighton.

Granit Xhaka returns to the squad after he missed the defeat to Brighton with an ankle injury. The Swiss international starts in midfield in place of Matteo Guendouzi, who isn’t even involved in the squad.

Obviously Bernd Leno isn’t involved after suffering a knee injury last time out so Emi Martinez starts in goal. Kieran Tierney comes in at left-back while Bukayo Saka gets another chance to impress in midfield. Youngster Matt Smith is involved in the first team squad for the first time.

Here are the line-ups:

Arsenal

Martinez, Bellerin, Mustafi, Holding, Tierney, Pepe, Ceballos, Xhaka, Saka, Nketiah, Aubameyang.

Subs: Macey, Sokratis, Kolasinac, Maitland-Niles, Willock, Smith, Nelson, Ozil, Lacazette

Southampton

McCarthy, Valery, Stephens, Bednarek, Bertrand, Højbjerg, Ward-Prowse, Armstrong, Redmond, Obafemi, Ings.

Subs: Gunn, Walker-Peters, Vestergaard, Vokins, Romeu, Smallbone, Tella, Long, Adams