Southampton (6-4-1) have stunned many with their performances since the start of the campaign, losing just once and restricting their opponents to just five goals over their 11 matches - a league low - and could go above the Gunners with a win.
The Saints have also had a strong record against the division's top teams under manager Mauricio Pochettino, picking up a win against Liverpool and a point at Manchester United already this season, and the Argentinian coach is confident of putting in another good performance on Saturday.
"As with every game in the Premier League, it's going to be very exciting, so we're going to do our best to try and get a positive result," said Pochettino. "We always have to believe that we can get something positive out of every single game that we play. We believe that we can play a very good game and we can get a very positive result in this game - we always believe in that.
"So far I think in the league Arsenal are showing the best football and they have been the best side. They're very dynamic and very quick and fast on the counter-attack. They have extraordinary players at their disposal."
Arsene Wenger's Arsenal (8-1-2) have started the season in spectacular form, although a 1-0 defeat to Manchester United before the international break halted their dominance at the top of the table, and a defeat to Southampton on Saturday could knock them down to second after eight weeks at the summit. A boost for the Gunners will be the likely return of Theo Walcott, who resumed full training last week after an abdominal injury, and Wenger believes that the England man will add a different element to the Arsenal attack.
"He is one of the players who goes behind the defence without the ball," said Wenger. "Of course you miss a player like Theo Walcott. Theo had a good start to the season, he scored goals, he provided chances and had assists. He can always give you a different option in the game and that is of course vital.
"You always want to have a perfect balance in attack. If you look at our results our balance was not too bad. But Theo has different qualities to other players and I am very pleased that he's back."
Arsenal have injury doubts over Jack Wilshere (ankle) and Aaron Ramsey (hamstring), while Lukas Podolski (hamstring), Yannick Sanogo (back), Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (knee) and Abou Diaby (knee) remain out. Southampton are without Jack Cork (ankle) and Guly do Prado (knee).
The Gunners have won four straight home games by a combined score of 10-2. The opening day defeat to Aston Villa is the only time the Gunners have dropped points at the Emirates since the start of the campaign.
Southampton are unbeaten in eight and have lost just once all season, keeping a hugely impressive six clean sheets and never conceding more than once in any of their matches.
This fixture last season saw Southampton thrashed 6-1, but the Saints took a point off Arsenal at St Mary's thanks to a 1-1 draw.
Courtesy: ScoreMobile (http://m.thescore.com/scoremobile)
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