Southampton vs Arsenal injury news:

Southampton injury news:

Out: Harwood-Bellis

Doubts: Bednarek 25% Grønbæk 25% Walker-Peters 25%

Banned:

Latest News: Albert Gronbaek is struggling with an Achilles problem but the main concern for Saints this weekend is in defence. Taylor Harwood-Bellis will miss the visit of Arsenal with an ankle issue, while Jan Bednarek is very doubtful with a knee complaint and Kyle Walker-Peters has missed the last two matches with a "nasty illness". Interim boss Simon Rusk hinted that there may be other factors beyond fitness regarding the omissions of the exit-bound Walker-Peters and Bednarek, however, saying that he was looking at "momentum for next season". Rusk said he wanted to strike a balance between being "competitive" against Arsenal and giving chances to "some younger ones [and] some that haven't had much game time lately". Yukinara Sugawara and Will Smallbone haven't yet started under Rusk and could be given belated opportunities after coming off the bench last weekend, while Ross Stewart made a positive impression as a substitute in Gameweek 37 as his temporary manager finally ditched the striker-less approach. Jay Robinson also caught the eye when he came on but Rusk said it would be a "big decision" to start the 18-year-old, so it may be more substitute minutes for the teenager. The same goes for Joachim Kayi Sanda despite the centre-half shortage; Rusk may simply opt to shift James Bree to centre-back instead.

Arsenal injury news:

Out: Jesus, Gabriel Magalhães, Saliba, Jurriën Timber, Tomiyasu

Doubts:

Banned:

Latest News: Jurrien Timber (hamstring) and William Saliba (ankle) will miss Arsenal’s trip to Southampton in Gameweek 38, joining Gabriel Jesus (knee), Gabriel Magalhaes (hamstring) and Takehiro Tomiyasu (knee) on the sidelines. Mikel Merino at least returns from suspension following his Gameweek 36 dismissal. Sunday’s match at St Mary's is a dead rubber, with the Gunners effectively assured of second place and Saints already relegated. Mikel Arteta was consequently asked about final-day motivation, responding in predictable fashion by saying he wanted to "have as many points as possible", "achieve the best defensive record" and win "the Golden Glove" for David Raya. If we want to look for harder evidence as to Arteta's approach to a meaningless match, the last dead rubber (Gameweek 38 of 2022/23) saw him name a full-strength, unchanged team. Riccardo Calafiori and Ben White will very likely deputise for Saliba and Timber, with the only question mark in defence being at left-back given that Kieran Tierney is departing this summer and Oleksandr Zinchenko may follow. Perhaps the farewells were last week at the Emirates, when Tierney and Jorginho were brought on late in the game. If Arteta is to go full strength as he did on the final day two years ago, there are still question marks over who leads the line: a Leandro Trossard/Gabriel Martinelli jobshare like last week, the returning Merino or even the fit-again Kai Havertz. Merino and Havertz are also options as the left-sided 'eight', should Arteta wish to go more attacking and drop Thomas Partey. Ethan Nwaneri is overdue some minutes, so should get a look-in at some point on Sunday afternoon.