Southampton vs. Arsenal: Date, Time, Live Stream, TV Info and Preview
Arsenal travel to Southampton on New Year's Day and will be hoping to start 2015 with a win that would see them leapfrog their hosts into fourth in the Premier League table.
Perennial Champions League qualifiers, some have questioned the Gunners' ability to make the top four this term, but a recent run of five wins in seven games has seen them edge steadily toward the upper end of the table.
As for Saints, they recently halted a worrying four-match losing run by picking up seven points from nine over the Christmas period, most recently earning a hard-fought point against Chelsea.
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Read on for full scheduling, television and streaming details ahead of what should be a high-quality clash as fourth takes on fifth.
Date: Thursday, Jan. 1
Time: 3 p.m. GMT, 10 a.m. ET
TV Info: NBCSN (U.S. only)
Live Stream: NBC Sports Live Extra
Preview
Arsenal are likely to be without Danny Welbeck for their trip to St Mary's on Thursday, the England forward having picked up a thigh strain in Sunday's 2-1 win over West Ham United.
Meanwhile, Aaron Ramsey is still not available. Nor is Olivier Giroud, who is serving a suspension, but Gunners boss Arsene Wenger has confirmed that Tomas Rosicky and Theo Walcott will both be involved in the squad, per the club's website.
The game's key absentee, though, is likely to be Morgan Schneiderlin, who will not be available to Ronald Koeman having picked up a red card against Chelsea.
Arsenal would no doubt have been delighted to see him dismissed, and the likes of Alexis Sanchez and Santi Cazorla must look to exploit the space that will likely open up between Southampton's defence and midfield in Schneiderlin's absence.
Without Schneiderlin, Koeman's side will be vulnerable on the break, and given the pace in the Arsenal team, the Gunners should be able to punish their hosts.
The Frenchman was missing for all but 45 minutes as Saints lost four on the bounce as November became December, and the south coast outfit may once again feel his absence on Thursday.
However, Southampton are far from a one-man team, and they have the defence to frustrate Arsenal's attacking players without their midfield talisman—whose duties will likely be assumed by Victor Wanyama.
The likes of Jose Fonte and Toby Alderweireld have been excellent all season, the former making it into Sky Sports Monday Night Football's team of the season at the halfway stage:
They will need to work hard to shut down Arsenal on the attack, but the Gunners are also vulnerable in defence, and the likes of Graziano Pelle and Sadio Mane have the quality to cause problems.
Saints need to start fast on Thursday, as an early goal would put them firmly in the driving seat and allow them to establish a solid defensive base to protect their lead.
These two sides have already faced off twice this season, Arsenal coming away as late winners early in December at the Emirates and Saints prevailing, 2-1, in their League Cup meeting.
Thursday is set to be another close encounter, with Arsenal desperate to move into fourth and Southampton not wishing to relinquish their Champions League spot.
With such close margins likely to define the result, finishing will be key, with the more clinical side set to come out on top.
