Arsenal - Southampton: An opportunity to correct Arteta's teachers and students?

In the last two matches, Arsenal drew 2-2 according to the same scenario: leading by two goals and then being equalized by the hosts Liverpool and West Ham in the second half. With the drop of four points, Mikel Arteta's teachers and students were reduced to four points by Man City. They even kicked one more match than the opponent.

In theory, Arsenal still holds the right to decide for the title race. In the immediate future, they need to beat Southampton today, then win points at the Etihad in the match against Man City in the middle of next week. The second task is very difficult, but the first is completely possible when they are kicked at the Emirates against the last opponent in the table.

Southampton have changed two coaches this season, but have not improved the ranking. Under the leadership of Ruben Selles, they have lost four of the last five matches and are diving with four points away from the safety group. Poor form will be difficult to improve, especially when having to go to Arsenal - the team unbeaten when hosting them in the past 36 years.

Since 1987, Arsenal have won 19 and drawn eight matches against Southampton at home. If they continue to fail, Southampton will become the first team to lose to Arsenal on all days of the week in the English Premier League. Opta estimates the probability of this happening is up to 67.3%.

Completely inferior to Arsenal when playing away, but Southampton has a good recent confrontation record against the "Gunners". In the last five encounters, Arsenal only won two, drew one and lost two. The games that Arsenal didn't win all took place at St Mary's.

Both sides are used to the recent shortages due to injury. Arsenal will continue to miss Takehiro Tomiyasu, Mohamed Elneny and William Saliba, while Oleksandr Zinchenko's ability to play is still open. Southampton also lost Juan Larios, Che Adams, Mohammed Salisu.

Historically, only the bottom four teams in the Premier League have ever won against the top team. Never before has this tournament seen the top team lose to the bottom team, when playing at home. Southampton are very thirsty for points to race for relegation, but they will find it difficult to improve the 93.9% relegation rate that Opta assesses at the moment.

Arsenal's chance of winning the title dropped to 33.1% after a slip in the previous round. Certainly, Arteta's teachers and students do not want this number to drop further, before they enter the "final match of the season" at the Etihad in the middle of next week.