Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta will hope to welcome Emile Smith Rowe back to the fold for Saturday's Premier League clash with Southampton at the Emirates.

The Gunners' top scorer missed the recent defeat to Everton due to a tight groin, but Arteta expects him to be fine for Saturday's contest, which is more than can be said for Sead Kolasinac.

Gabriel Martinelli is also fine despite his scare at Goodison Park, while second-choice goalkeeper Bernd Leno is a doubt with groin tightness.

After a spell of games on the bench, Kieran Tierney returned to the first XI against Everton and is sure to hold his place in an unchanged backline, with Nuno Tavares now among the substitutes.

Granit Xhaka surprisingly played the entire game at Goodison Park despite only just returning from a serious knee problem, and he is set to join the under-performing Thomas Partey once again.

Smith Rowe, Martin Odegaard and Bukayo Saka are set to operate behind the striker if the former is passed fit, but Arteta has a big selection headache up top.

Eddie Nketiah and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang both missed gilt-edged chances as substitutes in the Everton defeat, and Alexandre Lacazette did not cover himself in glory from the first whistle, so Martinelli may start up top with Aubameyang reportedly set to miss the game.

Arsenal possible starting lineup: Ramsdale; Tomiyasu, White, Gabriel, Tierney; Xhaka, Partey; Saka, Odegaard, Smith Rowe; Martinelli body check tags ::