Southampton vs. Arsenal | Premier League | Gameweek 38

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta was urged to rest the key Declan Rice for the rest of the season after it was believed that the £105 million player had suffered a hamstring injury. This was justified because the England international rescued the Gunners' bacon against Newcastle United once more.

Arteta's team finally woke up at the beginning of the second half, as was the case in their 2-2 draw with Liverpool, after David Raya's outstanding first-half performance against the Magpies. Rice's 19th direct goal contribution of the season was the difference in a 1-0 victory.

With just a single point on Sunday, Arsenal will secure a second-place ranking and end a five-game winless streak in front of their own supporters. Nevertheless, they should be okay anyhow because of their superior goal differential over Manchester City.

However, since victories on the last day are the visitors' specialty, Arteta and company can at least try to finish the present campaign the only way they know how, even though the silver medal will simply not be enough for them next season.

In fact, the Gunners have won more final-day games than any other team in the Premier League's history—23—and haven't lost a gameweek 38 match in twenty years, losing only to Birmingham City in their season-ending matchup in 2004–05.

The Southampton supporters, on the other hand, have experienced almost nothing but defeat this season. This weekend would mark their 30th of the top division season, setting a new unwelcome record for a single Premier League season.

However, normal play resumed last Saturday as Simon Rusk's team, who had the honor of being the last Premier League visitors to Goodison Park, lost 2-0 to an emotional Everton team after giving up two goals to Iliman Ndiaye in the first forty-five minutes.

Before turning the keys over to his successor, Lens manager Will Still is reportedly one of the front-runners. However, Rusk will not leave without attempting to arrange Southampton's third Premier League home victory since the beginning of 2023.

Although all eight of the Saints' Premier League wins over Arsenal have taken place in front of their own supporters, most recently in April 2022, the Gunners won 3-1 at the Emirates in October after Southampton took an unexpected lead. Nevertheless, the Saints can find comfort in some encouraging head-to-head statistics.