Team News: Arsenal unchanged against Southampton

Arsenal have named an unchanged side for their Boxing Day trip to face Southampton at St Mary's Stadium.

Arsene Wenger has stuck with the same XI that dispatched of title rivals Manchester City on Monday night as his side look to capitalise on Leicester City dropping points earlier today to move top of the table.

That means that Olivier Giroud once again leads the line with in-form Mesut Ozil behind him, while former Southampton man Theo Walcott and Joel Campbell will also be in support.

Southampton, meanwhile, have made four changes to the side that made it six games without a win in all competitions by losing to Arsenal's North London rivals Tottenham Hotspur last weekend.

Maarten Stekelenburg returns in goal in place of Paulo Gazzaniga, while Cuco Martina is handed his first Premier League start in place of the injured Cedric.

Graziano Pelle also misses out due to injury having damaged his knee in training, and the Italian is replaced by Shane Long in the starting lineup this weekend, while James Ward-Prowse is in for Dusan Tadic.

Southampton: Stekelenburg; Martina, Van Dijk, Fonte, Bertrand; Clasie, Wanyama, Davis, Ward-Prowse, Mane; Long Subs: Yoshida, Tadic, Romeu, Juanmi, Ramirez, Gazzaniga, Caulker

Arsenal: Cech; Bellerin, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Monreal; Flamini, Ramsey, Campbell, Ozil, Walcott; Giroud Subs: Gibbs, Gabriel, Ospina, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Chambers, Iwobi, Reine-Adelaide