Team news

Team news: Sterling handed first Gunners PL start

Raheem Sterling celebrates scoring against Bolton

Mikel Arteta has made three changes to his starting line-up for today’s game with Southampton, with Raheem Sterling handed a first Premier League start for the club.

The winger has come into the side in place of Gabriel Martinelli, while Gabriel Jesus is also given a chance to impress up front with Leandro Trossard dropping to the bench.

After limping off against PSG in midweek, Jurrien Timber hasn’t made the matchday squad with Thomas Partey expected to fill in at right-back with Ben White also unavailable. Jorginho fills the Ghanaian’s spot in midfield, and captains the side.

There is a welcome return to the bench for Takehiro Tomiyasu, while Mikel Merino could make his league bow for us after being named amongst the replacements.

Southampton meanwhile have made four changes to their side that lost 3-1 to Bournemouth on Monday night.

Joe Aribo and Ryan Manning come into midfield with Maxwell Cornet and Ryan Fraser dropping out of Russell Martin's squad. Kyle Walker-Peters is in at left-back instead of Charlie Taylor, while Ross Stewart will play up front, shifting Tyler Dibling out the flank and Lesley Ugochukwu benched.


LINE-UP

Arsenal: Raya, Partey, Saliba, Gabriel, Calafiori, Jorginho, Rice, Havertz, Saka, Sterling, Jesus.
Subs: Neto, Lewis-Skelly, Tomiyasu, Kiwior, Merino, Nwaneri, Martinelli, Trossard, Butler-Oyedeji.

Southampton: Ramsdale, Sugawara, Bednarek, Harwood-Bellis, Walker-Peters, Downes, Manning, Aribo, Dibling, Fernandes, Stewart.
Subs: McCarthy, Bree, Taylor, Lallana, Ugochukwu, Brereton Diaz, Armstrong, Archer, Onuachu.

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