Only goal difference separates Southampton and Arsenal going into 2015, and the top-four rivals will face off at St Mary's Stadium on New Year's Day.

It is the Saints who currently occupy the all-important final Champions League spot, but a repeat of their 1-0 defeat to Arsenal at the start of December would see the Gunners leapfrog them into the top four.

That result came in the midst of a difficult run for Southampton, but Ronald Koeman has since steadied the ship and re-established his side as contenders for a European berth.

The major question mark over their credentials still centres around their record against other teams expecting to challenge for a top-four place, with defeats to Manchester City, Liverpool, Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United already this season.

They did, however, go some way to proving their worth on Sunday as Chelsea were held to a draw at St Mary's despite some heavy pressure from the league leaders.

That made it three matches unbeaten for the Saints, while they have only lost twice at home all season. Indeed, only the top two can better Southampton's home record in the top flight.

Morgan Schneiderlin was shown a late red card in the draw against Chelsea and so misses this match through suspension, which should mean that James Ward-Prowse comes into the starting lineup.

Shane Long is also pushing for a start but may be forced to wait until Sadio Mane joins up with the Ghana squad for the Africa Cup of Nations, while Nathaniel Clyne is a doubt through injury.

A trip to the South Coast is a tricky prospect for the Gunners, but they go into the game in fine form having won four of their last five matches in all competitions.

Performances have not quite been as impressive as they might have liked during that run, but they remain in a healthy position compared to the likes of Spurs, Liverpool and Everton in the race for fourth place.

A 2-1 victory over West Ham United on Sunday provided ample evidence that they can negotiate testing fixtures like this one, and they would leapfrog their opponents for the second match in a row should they make it three wins on the trot on Thursday.

They will once again be without the suspended Olivier Giroud as he continues to serve a ban for his headbutt on Nedum Onuoha, while Danny Welbeck is also a doubt through injury.

That could result in Alexis Sanchez continuing in a central role and a rare start for Tomas Rosicky on the left.

Mikel Arteta, Mesut Ozil, and Jack Wilshere remain sidelined, however, so Francis Coquelin is likely to retain his starting spot despite Aaron Ramsey pushing for selection following injury.

Southampton:

Form in Premier League: LLLWWD
Form in all competitions: LLLWWD

Possible starting lineup: Forster; Yoshida, Fonte, Alderweireld, Bertrand; Ward-Prowse, Wanyama, Davis; Tadic, Pelle, Mane

Arsenal:

Form in Premier League: WLWDWW
Form in all competitions: LWWDWW

Possible starting lineup: Szczesny; Debuchy, Koscielny, Mertesacker, Gibbs; Cazorla, Flamini, Coquelin; Oxlade-Chamberlain, Sanchez, Rosicky

Sports Mole says: 1-1

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