Arsenal are expected to welcome Oleksandr Zinchenko back into their starting side for Friday's Premier League clash with basement side Southampton.

The Ukraine international was absent for his side's 2-2 draw with West Ham United last weekend due to a muscular issue that he suffered towards the end of the match with Liverpool earlier this month.

However, the problem is not thought to be serious, and he is likely to be back in the side for this contest, taking the place of Kieran Tierney at left-back.

William Saliba, though, is again expected to miss out with a lower back problem.

The Frenchman has not featured since the middle of March, missing Arsenal's last four Premier League matches, and he is set to be unavailable for selection against the Saints.

Meanwhile, Takehiro Tomiyasu and Mohamed Elneny are both long-term absentees for the North London outfit.

There are not expected to be any real surprises when it comes to the Arsenal XI on Friday, with Gabriel Jesus again set to operate alongside Gabriel Martinelli and Bukayo Saka in the final third of the field.

Meanwhile, Martin Odegaard, Thomas Partey and Granit Xhaka should make up the three-man midfield for Arsenal, who will be bidding to move seven points clear at the top of the Premier League table.

Arsenal possible starting lineup: Ramsdale; White, Holding, Gabriel, Zinchenko; Xhaka, Thomas, Odegaard; Martinelli, Jesus, Saka body check tags ::