Arsenal v Southampton: Premier League – live!

35 min: Aubameyang is released down the left flank by Kieran Tierney. His attempted cross hits a Southampton defender before going out for a goal-kick off the Gabon international.

34 min: Ryan Bertrand gets booked for a needlessly robust challenge on Nicolas Pepe down by the technical areas, right by the touchline.

32 min: With Southampton having been in total control for the past 20 minutes, Arsenal are desperately trying to get a foothold in the game. If they were to concede another in the next few minutes, you suspect they could lose by a cricket score. Walcott has a shot from distance blocked by Gabriel.

30 min: All three away sides are winning in our 6pm kick-offs. It’s Leeds 0-1 Newcastle and Leicester 0-1 Everton elsewhere.

28 min: Aubameyang hares down the inside left before squaring the ball for Pepe. His shot is deflected and loops up in the air before being cleared. Moments later, Ceballos shoots high over the bar.

27 min: Having had a penalty appeal from Theo Walcott turned down, Southampton have a player booked. Jan Bednarek sees yellow for a foul on Eddie Nketiah.

25 min: James Ward-Prowse sends a cross into the Arsenal penalty area from the right. It’s cleared.

23 min: More good play from Walcott, who gets in behind the Arsenal defence to win his team a corner. Nothing comes of it, but Arsenal are looking in all sorts of bother here. They have never lost five consecutive home games in the top flight but are on course to do so tonight.

23 min: Che Adams beats Gabriel down the right flank and tries to pick out Danny Ings with a low cross. It’s intercepted.

21 min: The scorer of 108 goals for Arsenal bags one against his former team and wasn’t even remotely reluctant when it came to celebrating. He was delighted!

18 min: Theo Walcott sprints between Kieran Tierney and Bukayo Saka to run on to a Che Adams through ball from deep. He hares clear of the two defenders and into the right side of the penalty area, before deftly lifting the ball over Bernd Leno and wheeling away in celebration.

Theo Walcott puts Southampton ahead, scoring a peach against his former club.

17 min: Danny Ceballos gets a dressing down from referee Paul Tierney for a scything challenge on Theo Walcott.

13 min: Gabriel dribbles past Che Adams with the ball at his feet, catching the Southampton striker with a ferocious elbow to the jaw as he does so. Adams drops to the floor in what seems a huge amount of pain – I don’t think it was an intentional act of aggression by Gabriel, but Adams might want to count his teeth when he gets to the dressing-room at half-time.

11 min: Plenty of faff to little obvious effect in the middle third from both teams.

7 min: Oriel Romeu pings a pass from deep to Theo Walcott on the edge of the Arsenal penalty area. He tries to control it but Danny Ceballos harries and clears for Arsenal.

6 min: Southampton have a free-kick on the right flank, which James Ward-Prowse whips into the Arsenal penalty area. The home side clears.

5 min: Saka goes down injured for the second time after getting his leg gets accidentally caught under the weight of Che Adams in a challenge. There’s a break in play as he receives treatment.

4 min: Arsenal dominate in these early stages but without creating anything in the way of a scoring chance.

3 min: Bukayo Saka picks up a crossfield pass in acres of space on the left wing. His attempted cross is blocked by Kyle Walker-Peters.

1 min: Pre-match speculation was rife that Arsenal might line up with five at the back. They line up with four at the back. Southampton’s Che Adams tries his luck with an early shot from distance. His effort sails high and wide.

1 min: Play begins, with the players of Arsenal wearing their usual home kit. Their opponents wear navy blue shirts with slightly less navy shorts and socks.

The teams are out on the pitch at the Emirates, where it’s tipping down with rain. On Amazon Prime, who are broadcasting this match in the UK, the commentary dream team of Clive Tyldesley and Andy Townsend has been reunited. They’re not for everyone but definitely for me, Clive.

Some good news for Gooners: This time last year Southampton were in the bottom three … and tonight they will go top of the table if they win this game.

Mikel Arteta speaks: “We have to freshen it up,” he says of his decision to drop Lacazette and Willian in an interview with Amazon Prime. “We need some creativity and goal threats up front.”

Mikel Arteta has made four changes with two big names getting axed. Willian and Alexandre Lacazette drop to the bench and will be replaced by Nicolas Pepe and Eddie Nketiah. Dani Celballos and Ainsley Maitland Niles come in for the suspended Granit Xhaka and Hector Bellerin.

Southampton manager Ralph Hassenhuttl picks the same team that beat Sheffield United on Sunday.

Big new about big Sam: Sam Allardyce has been confirmed as the new manager of West Bromwich Albion, following the dismissal of Slaven Bilic earlier today.

Arsenal: Leno, Maitland-Niles, Holding, Gabriel, Tierney, Ceballos, Elneny, Saka, Pepe, Aubameyang, Nketiah.

Subs: Runarsson, Cedric, Mustafi, Luiz, Willock, Willian, Lacazette.

Southampton: McCarthy, Walker-Peters, Bednarek, Vestergaard, Bertrand, Armstrong, Ward-Prowse, Romeu, Walcott, Adams, Ings.

Subs: Forster, Stephens, Redmond, Djenepo, Salisu, Diallo, N’Lundulu.

Despite his insistence on repeatedly picking the same players who repeatedly let him down, Mikel Arteta’s hand has been forced this evening.

Granit Xhaka misses out as he sits out the first game of his suspension for getting sent off against Burnley on Sunday, while Hector Bellerin will join him on the Naughty Step after he was shown his fifth yellow card of the season in the same game. Nicolas Pepe is available, however, having served his three-match ban for getting sent off against Leeds.

Sead Kolasinic is expected to sit this one out with injury, while Reiss Nelson and David Luiz could return from head injuries. Midfielder Thomas Partey remains sidelined but Gabriel Martinelli is on the verge of a return to the senior team after recovering from a knee injury.

Southampton manager Ralph Hassenhuttl has no injury concerns and may pick the same team that beat trounced Sheffield |united over the weekend.

Arsenal are hoping to halt a run of four consecutive home league defeats when they entertain Southampton at the Emirates tonight but with the Saints flying high in the table on the back of seven wins in their past 10 games, there is no guarantee Mikel Arteta’s side will be spared further embarrassment.

Arsenal’s manager has been assured his job is not in peril, while his players can console themselves with the knowledge that London’s relegation to tier three of the covid restrictions there will be no disgruntled fans present to boo them on as they go about their business this evening.

Kick-off on a busy midweek evening of Premier League action is at 6pm (GMT) but stay tuned in the meantime for team news and build-up.