Arsenal's upturn in form has given them a realistic chance of finishing the season strongly, even if manager Arsene Wenger admits that finishing in the top four remains unlikely.
The Gunners have won their last five matches in all competitions and their imperious home form has seen them lose just two of their last 23 league matches at Emirates Stadium.
Relegation-threatened Southampton have recorded just one win in their last 18 league games, but may take hope from their surprise 2-0 victory over the Gunners last season.
Wenger's side look all but certain to reach the Europa League semi-finals after an impressive 4-1 win over CSKA Moscow on Thursday and could decide to rest a number of players ahead of the return leg in Russia next week.
Arsenal injuries
David Ospina has been ruled out for two to three weeks with an ankle injury sustained in training on Wednesday.
Armenia international Henrikh Mkhitaryan misses out with a slight knee problem but should be fit for the return leg against CSKA next Thursday.
Spanish midfielder Santi Cazorla remains a long-term absentee with an Achilles injury.
Arsenal suspensions
Arsenal have no players suspended for this game.
Arsenal potential starting line-up
Wenger could make several changes to freshen up his team ahead of next Thursday's Europa League quarter-final second leg against CSKA Moscow.
The likes of Alex Iwobi and Sead Kolasinac could start, while it's possible that Calum Chambers or Rob Holding will fill in for Laurent Koscielny with the Frenchman carefully managing his chronic Achilles problem.
Mohamed Elneny could also start in midfield if Wenger opts to rest one of Jack Wilshere, Aaron Ramsey or Granit Xhaka.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is expected to return upfront and could play alongside Alexandre Lacazette after the Frenchman insisted that they can play in the same team together.
Southampton team news
Southampton have a full squad to choose from with Oriol Romeu likely to come in for Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg and Steven Davis for Manolo Gabbiadini.
Newly-appointed manager Mark Hughes was tasked with keeping Southampton in the Premier League but defeat in his last match against West Ham has pushed them further adrift of the safety zone.
He won his first match as manager of the Saints by beating Wigan in the FA Cup quarter-final, but the 3-0 defeat against the Hammers once again emphasised how difficult it will be to secure his side's top-flight status for another season.
Charlie Austin is the club's top scorer with six goals to his name so far this season.
Best Opta match facts
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The Gunners are unbeaten in their last 22 home league games against Southampton (W16 D6), since a
0-1 loss in November 1987. -
However, in all competitions Southampton have won two of their last five visits to the Emirates (D1 L2), winning League Cup ties in 2014-15 and 2016-17.
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Arsenal have won their last two Premier League games, both by a 3-0 scoreline. The last time they won three in a row by a margin of at least three goals was in October 2015.
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Meanwhile, Saints have lost their last two league games, also both by a 3-0 scoreline. They’ve not lost three consecutively by three or more goals in league competition since August 1930 in the second tier.
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Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has had a hand in six goals in his first six Premier League games for Arsenal (5 goals, 1 assist). The most combined goals and assists in a player’s first seven for the club is also six, achieved by Ian Wright, Davor Suker, Gervinho and Mesut Özil.
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If Arsenal win, it will be their 150th Premier League win at the Emirates Stadium (226 games). They’ll be the only side to have won 150+ games at two different stadiums in the competition.
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Charlie Austin has scored five goals in his six starts in the Premier League for Southampton this season. He’s also scored in all three of his Premier League games against the Gunners – the joint-best 100% record against them in the competition (Mo Salah and Callum Wilson also scored in 3/3).
TV channel & kick-off time
The match kicks off at 14:15 BST on Sunday with live television coverage available on Sky Sports in the UK.
