Matteo Guendouzi has been left out of the Arsenal squad for the Southampton clash after coming in for criticism for losing his cool during the 2-1 defeat to Brighton.
The French midfielder was accused of bragging about his wages to opposition players before grabbing goalscorer Neal Maupay by the throat on Saturday.
Arsenal’s hopes of qualifying for next season’s Champions League are all-but over, however they will be keen to restore some pride at St Mary’s.
The Gunners have been heavily scrutinised following back-to-back defeats since the restart, as a 3-0 thrashing at Manchester City was followed by a total collapse during the 2-1 defeat to Brighton.
Criticism of the club only increased when David Luiz, the player responsible for the City defeat, was rewarded with a new one-year deal this earlier this week.
talkSPORT host and Arsenal fan Laura Woods, for one, was flabbergasted by the club’s decision.
The talkSPORT host said: “Listen, there are lot of problems at Arsenal, but in terms of what can be controlled…
“I don’t know a single Arsenal fan that would back the decision” – Laura Woods shocked by David Luiz’s new contract
“Did Mikel Arteta have any option other than to sign David Luiz and keep him in the team?
“Apparently he’s saying: ‘I needed to, I need some sort of stability’… Stability is probably the wrong word.
“I really hate the bandwagon culture you get when players make mistakes, it happened with Mustafi and it’s happening to Luiz.
“But as Arsenal fans we watch reckless mistakes that cost games, cost points and put your team in a position where they’re struggling… this is Arsenal, and they’re 10th!
“Arteta must see something in David Luiz, whether it’s leadership or what, because I don’t know a single Arsenal fan that would back that decision.”
Luiz serving the last of a two-match suspension, while elsewhere, Granit Xhaka returns from injury to start and Mesut Ozil remains on the bench, having not played a minute since the restart.
Confirmed XIs
Southampton: McCarthy, Valery, Stephens, Bednarek, Bertrand, Hojbjerg, Ward-Prowse, Armstrong, Redmond, Obafemi, Ings.
Subs: Gunn, Walker-Peters, Verstergaard, Vokins, Romeu, Smallbone, Tella, Long, Adams.
Arsenal: Martinez, Bellerin, Mustafi, Holding, Tierney, Pepe, Ceballos, Xhaka, Saka, Nketiah, Aubameyang.
Subs: Macey, Sokratis, Lacazette, Ozil, Maitland-Niles, Nelson, Willock, Kolasinac, Smith.
