Southampton 0-2 Arsenal live reaction as Gunners secure vital three points at St Mary's

Wenger hails Sanchez in Saints win

Arsene Wenger felt Arsenal were full value for their 2-0 win at Southampton that kept their Premier League top-four hopes alive.

Goals from Alexis Sanchez - his 20th in the Premier League this season - and substitute Olivier Giroud handed the Gunners three points that saw them leapfrog Manchester United into fifth place.

Wenger was pleased his side backed up their performance in beating United on Sunday to move to within three points of fourth-placed Manchester City.

“Overall it was a very convincing win,” he told Sky Sports.

“It was a very even game in the first half but in the second half I felt we took over and created many opportunities to score.”

On Sanchez’s well-taken goal, Wenger added:

“That’s Alexis, he’s a player that never gives up and is tricky to stop.

“He’s very good in a small space and once he has the ball in the box he’s dangerous.

“Alexis is always a slow starter in games but he gets stronger and stronger.”

Giroud settled the contest with a late header and Wenger admitted the form of his frontmen has left him with a selection headache.

“It’s difficult at the moment for me to choose between (Danny) Welbeck and Giroud.

“Both of them are playing well and both have a great team spirit.

“I’m always harsh with the one that doesn’t play.”

Cech reflects on vital victory for Gunners

Arsenal goalkeeper Petr Cech has been speaking to the BBC. Here is what he has had to say...

“Every game we try to give ourselves a chance. We shot ourselves in the foot against Tottenham and we are aware we need to win all the remaining games to be in the race (for the Champions League).

“We had a big game against United and then here, where historically we haven’t done that well in the league.

“It was tough in the first half but then we found the opening and deserved to win.”

Arsenal player ratings

Cech 7

Given the captain’s armband, made some excellent saves. In good form.

Holding 7

A more steady performance on the right of the back three.

Mustafi 7

Back after a month out injured, the centre-half was fairly solid and aggressive.

Monreal 6

This role on the left of the three has suited him, but a few wayward passes.

Oxlade-Chamberlain 6

Quite lively down the right until a hamstring injury forced him off before half time.

Ramsey 8 MOTM

Worked so hard, tried to get forward and make things happen and finished the game with an assist.

Xhaka 6

Been carrying a knock and this was a game too far, but some good passes.

Gibbs 7

A good outlet going forward down the left, good pace and a threat.

Ozil 6

Assist for Sanchez, otherwise quite disappointing and lethargic at times.

Sanchez 7

Was quiet until he scored, but super finish. Composed and calm. Lethal.

Welbeck 6

Lacked sharpness and a ruthless killer. Looked a little out of tune.

Substitutes

Bellerin, for Oxlade-Chamberlain, 36 mins, 6

Giroud, for Welbeck, 80 mins

Coquelin, for Ozil, 89 mins

Not used: Gabriel, Ospina, Walcott, Iwobi

Southampton player ratings

Forster 6

Fairly quiet night, little to do until he was beaten by Sanchez’s cool finish.

Soares 6

Virtually played as a right winger, loves to get forward and was a threat.

Stephens 6

Another steady performance at centre half, strong prospect for Southampton.

Yoshida 7

Solid performance, you can see him bark out instructions and lead the defence.

Bertrand 7

Likes to get forward but showed again that he can also do a good defensive job.

Davis 7

Captained the team, broke up play in midfield and was incredibly tenacious.

Romeu 7

Such a good player, huge for Saints, hard as nails and simple distribution.

Ward-Prowse 7

Booked. Worked hard, linked up well down the right and got forward well.

Tadic 6

Always tidy in possession, but didn’t affect the game enough in central role.

Redmond 7

Bright start, caused problems down Southampton’s left and went close with fierce shot.

Gabbiadini 6

Saw a good shot blocked and went very close with a free kick. Better.

Substitutes

Boufal, for Ward-Prowse, 70 mins, 6

Long, for Redmond, 70 mins, 6

Rodriguez, for Tadic, 80 mins

Not used: Caceres, Højbjerg, Pied, Hassen

Cech rolled back the years

The former Chelsea was at his commanding best to ensure Southampton were unable to take advantage of his side’s chaotic defending here. His saves would ultimately prove crucial in clinching this win.

It was Cech’s lightning-quick reactions that prevented Gabbiadini scoring with the follow-up after Shkodran Mustafi had blocked Dusan Tadic on the half-hour.

It was Cech who threw himself into the top corner to stop Nathan Radmond scoring with a 42nd-minute screamer.

The years may be catching up with him but at 34 Cech is still proving his worth in an Arsenal shirt.

A big shame for Ox

What a shame his game was cut short by injury.

Oxlade-Chamberlain was pacy, lively and involved in many of Arsenal’s brightest moments until he limped off ten minutes before the break.

He’d played an innocuous ball forward before going down clutching the back of his left thigh.

If he is out for any length of time you’d start to wonder whether he has kicked his last ball for the club.

Liverpool are among a number of clubs with a big admiration for his abilities. With a year left he’d be a bargain.

Gabbiadini should come good again

He looked so good when he arrived with four goals in his first three appearances, worrying the life - in particular - out of Manchester United in the League Cup Final.

Then injury struck.

Since then, the £17million signing from Napoli has been unable to buy a goal.

Heading into this contest he hadn’t found the net in five, managing just one shot on target. We’ve all seen enough from Gabbiadini, however, to suggest he will come good again.

What is the fuss over Puel about?

We all know the Saints story. Good players blossom and they get sold.

The Saints fans go through the motions of insisting their stars are going nowhere but invariably the player in question aspires to bigger things and moves to a bigger club. In the circumstances a mid-table finish for the Saints under Claude Puel is not that bad.

The Frenchman lost Jose Fonte in January to West Ham and both Virgil van Dijk and Charlie Austin to long-term injury.

No wonder only Middlesbrough, Sunderland and Palace have won fewer home games than Southampton this season. With a game in hand on their rivals they could even finish top ten.

Arsenal closing in on top four

He may not know what a Director of Football does but Arsene Wenger has proven time and again that he knows how to come with a late run at just the right time to clinch a place in the top four.

Arsenal have now had four wins from their last six and the confidence appears to be coming back to the Wenger boys. The politics can wait for another day.

This win was particularly significant in that they’d lost five of their previous six away games and had had just one clean sheet in 13 on the road. They needed these three points. Badly.

Liverpool now go to rejuvenated West Ham - the team that saw off Spurs last week - on Sunday.

Arsenal still do have to go to Stoke but even they have only one win from their last nine.

Win there and the Gunners finish with home games against relegated Sunderland and an Everton side without an away win since January.

Manchester United appear to have given up the ghost while you simply don’t know which Manchester City side will turn up from one week to the next. The race for the top four could yet go to the wire now.

PEEP! FT' Southampton 0-2 Arsenal

That’s your lot and Arsenal have secured a massive three points in their pursuit of Champions League football.

Sanchez then Giroud. Big game players, step up!

Mesut Ozil has been quiet tonight. Can’t deny that.

On tonight’s showing, if you had to choose between keeping Sanchez or him, it would be an easy decision.

GOAL! Southampton 0-2 Arsenal (Giroud)

Game. Set. Match.

Southampton had been steady until they went behind.

Will be interesting to see their approach now in the final 10 minutes of the game.

Have you got anything up your sleeve, Claude?

Alexis Sanchez's goal in pictures

If there was any doubts about his credentials for a new contract, he certainly showed them off with this one.

A big game player popping up at the right time.

GOAL! Southampton 0-1 Arsenal (Sanchez)

I’d like to claim the assist for that one with the post just a couple of minutes ago.

Brilliant from Sanchez. Just when they needed him most, he was there!

A little note on Southampton as it is worth saying that Jack Stephens has had a superb run in the Saints team.

He’s only really there because of injuries, but he’s done a sterling job. You forget how inexperienced and how young he actually is, which is a great compliment for him.

Alexis Sanchez here, putting in the hard graft and tracking back to put in a tackle.

You do have to wonder if the contract negotiations have affected the back end of his season. He’s not been the same player that we saw early on.

Petr Cech well and truly kept Arsenal in the game during the first half after denying both Redmond and Gabbiadini.

No wonder he’s got a smile on his face as the sun sets at St. Mary’s...

Ox injury could mean cup final misery

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain’s chances of appearing in the FA Cup final are in doubt after limping off during Arsenal’s clash with Southampton.

The England star was forced off 10 minutes before the break with an apparent hamstring injury.

He went down clutching the back of his thigh as medical staff rushed onto the pitch to check on him.

They immediately signalled for a replacement as Oxlade-Chamberlain limped off to be replaced by Hector Bellerin.

The winger was given a round of applause from all four sides of St Mary’s, having previously played for Southampton.

The injury is another blow for Oxlade-Chamberlain, who has impressed in a wing-back role in recent weeks.

Should it be a pull or tear, he will almost certainly miss the FA Cup final in just 17 days time.

PEEP! HT' Southampton 0-0 Arsenal

That’s a wrap for the first 45 minutes.

Southampton have been the bigger threat of the two. Arsenal need to do a lot more if they are to secure a vital win.

This has been really disappointing as a spectacle.

Especially from Arsenal’s perspective, where they are in desperate need of three points of they are going to make the top four.

Big half-time talk needed from Arsene Wenger.

Mesut Ozil appears to be having one of ‘those’ nights.

He is another one struggling to have much impact on the attacking movements of the Gunners.

Big concern for Arsenal here as Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain goes down injured.

That could indeed be him done for the season - and out of the FA Cup final.

Not much happening in the final third for Arsenal.

Danny Welbeck is leading the line but is barely getting a touch of the ball.

Has to be alarming for Arsenal at how much they are struggling to get the ball to stick in the final third.

There is a derby happening right now. Madrid derby, I believe.

I hear it might be a slight bit more exciting than this.

Nah, not having it. I’m sticking with this.

Remember we mentioned the sun being bright in Southampton?

Well, erm, take a look for yourself...

Rob Holding has impressed in recent weeks and he has started quite strong again tonight.

He is really making a case for a regular starting berth next season.

Early action from St Mary’s as Alexis Sanchez shields the ball from Steven Davis.

No clear cut chances at either end so far, but expect that man to get more and more dangerous as the night goes on.

Both managers appeared relaxed ahead of kick-off this evening.

There is obvious pressure on Arsene Wenger, but without a win in four games, there is certainly something to worry about for Claude Puel.

The sun in shining bright at the stadium and it is proving a little bit of a problem for some of the supporters.

Cupped hands over the eyes throughout one side of St Mary’s.