Arsenal travelled to an out-of-form Southampton on Boxing Day knowing that three points would move them above Leicester City to the top of the Premier League table.
It was the hosts that took the lead at St Mary's, however, courtesy of a wonderful strike from Cuco Martina in the 19th minute and that effort separated the two teams at the interval.
Southampton then had their second in the 55th minute when Shane Long converted a low cross from Sadio Mane, before Jose Fonte added a third from a corner 20 minutes from time.
Ronald Koeman's side were not finished, however, and Long scored his second in the second minute of added time to make it a miserable night for the Gunners.
Read how it all unfolded in Sports Mole's minute-by-minute live commentary of the action below.
Evening all! It has been a busy day on Sports Mole so forgive the short-ish build-up for this particular match. We have had a full programme of Boxing Day fixtures and this is a real cracker to end it. Southampton are really struggling at the moment and will not relish welcoming an in-form Arsenal, who many are tipping to win the title this season. We are set up for an entertaining game of football!
Right, first and foremost, let me bring you up-to-speed with the all-important team news. With matches also to come on Monday, both managers will be looking to balance their squads!
TEAMS:
SAINTS: Stekelenburg; Martina, Fonte, Van Dijk, Bertrand; Clasie, Wanyama, Davis; Ward-Prowse, Long, Mane
ARSENAL: Cech; Bellerin, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Monreal; Flamini, Ramsey; Walcott, Ozil, Campbell; Giroud
So there we have it. Southampton boss Ronald Koeman has made four changes to the team that lost at home to Tottenham Hotspur last weekend, with Shane Long and James Ward-Prowse both returning. There is also a first Premier League start for Cuco Martina, who is in for the injured Cedric. Italian striker Graziano Pelle misses out with a knee problem, allowing Long to lead the line.
Arsenal, however, are unchanged from the team that beat Manchester City 2-1 on Monday. That means another start in a wide position for Joel Campbell, leaving Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain on the bench. Mesut Ozil and Olivier Giroud will hope to continue their excellent form in the absence of Alexis Sanchez and Santi Cazorla. Mathieu Flamini and Aaron Ramsey start centrally for the Gunners.
Both teams are in and we are now just over 15 minutes from kickoff. Arsenal have only lost one of their last 11 Premier League games against Southampton, but that defeat (2-0) occurred in their last meeting in January. Indeed, Southampton will be looking to win successive league games against Arsenal for the first time since April 1988, which was the year before I was born in case anyone wants to know.
Southampton, who have lost just one of their last seven Premier League games on Boxing Day, will enter this match, however, off the back of a five-game winless run in the top flight. Ronald Koeman's side have picked up just one point from their last five in the top flight, but they have never gone six consecutive league games under Koeman's leadership without picking up a win.
It is not as if the Saints have been getting blown away during their poor run, but they lost 2-0 at home to Tottenham Hotspur last weekend and have also been beaten 1-0 at Crystal Palace and 1-0 at home to Stoke City over the last month or so. As it stands, they are 12th in the table having won five, drawn six and lost six of their 17 league matches this term, which is far from disastrous.
As for Arsenal, the Gunners are currently the favourites, with the bookmakers at least, to win the league title and would go top with a win here. Arsene Wenger's side will enter the match off the back of a 2-1 win over Man City last time out and they currently sit second in the table on 36 points. Eleven wins, three draws and three defeats has made it a strong first half of the season.
Victory for the visitors this evening would set them up very nicely for back-to-back home games against Bournemouth and Newcastle. By the time they make the trip to Anfield on January 13, Arsenal could well be a few points clear at the top of the table. That said, the Gunners have won just one of their last six away league trips to Southampton. Right, time for my prediction!
PREDICTION! I would like to point you in the direction of my preview for this match, which is worth a look as kickoff fast approaches on this mild evening down south. Arsenal will fancy their chances of recording another win in this game, but I just have a feeling that Southampton will be good enough for a point this evening. I am predicting an entertaining 1-1 draw at St Mary's.
You just get the feeling that the first goal - if there indeed is one - will be vital in this match. Southampton really need to get off to a strong start and they certainly have the players to cause Arsenal problems. However, the visitors are really playing some good stuff at the moment.
KICKOFF! Here we go then - the pre-match handshakes have been undertaken and the flags have been exchanged. This should, I repeat should, be an open and entertaining game of football. I hope that I have not just cursed it! Right, it is the home side that get the first period underway here...
... Arsenal are in gold and black this evening, while Southampton have lined up in their usual red and white stripes. The away supporters are in good voice in the early moments, while the pitch also looks in fine condition. We are all set for a good game and the tempo has been high early on here.
Half-chance for Arsenal to take the lead inside two minutes, but Giroud heads over the crossbar from an Ozil corner. Not sure about the marking from Southampton during that set piece!
Koeman has only lost two of his nine previous meetings with Wenger and will be able to take some confidence into this match. His team, however, are struggling for form at the moment. As expected, Arsenal have taken control of the possession in the opening four minutes of action.
Ozil delivers a super free kick into the Southampton box as Arsenal threaten to make the breakthrough, but Mertesacker does not gamble and it goes out for a goal kick. The Saints really need to get their supporters on-side, but it is Arsenal dictating this game at the moment.
It has not been the best start to this match for Long, who has been caught offside three times and also failed to go with Mertesacker during an earlier set piece. One-way traffic at the moment.
No real chances inside the opening 10 minutes, but Arsenal are dictating the possession here, which is not too much of a surprise. We have seen little from Mane thus far, but the attacker has the quality needed to upset Arsenal. The hosts just need to put together a spell of possession.
Southampton have only scored twice in their last five games in the Premier League and in truth, we have not seen anything from the Saints going forward in the opening 12 minutes. Wanyama, however, has been nice and solid in midfield and lets Ramsey knows he is there with a tough tackle.
Better from the home team in the last couple of minutes as Davis and Mane both show flashes of skill in the final third of the field. Arsenal, however, remain nice and solid at the back.
Half-chance for the away side as Ramsey picks out a super pass into Monreal, who delivers low into the Southampton box, but it is deflected over for a corner. Super from Ramsey there!
Pelle is a real miss for Southampton in this match and that has been shown in the last couple of minutes, with two excellent crosses bring delivered into the Arsenal box. Long does not win either and Arsenal manage to clear. It is much, much better from the home side at the moment though!
CHANCE! The best chance of the match thus far falls to Arsenal as Monreal meets one on the volley after Giroud flicked a header towards the back post, but the left-back does not really catch it and the Saints goalkeeper is on hand to make the save. Clearest sight of goal at St Mary's!
GOAL! Southampton 1-0 Arsenal (Martina)
Oh my good grief! What a goal! Southampton take the lead in the 19th minute as Martina uses the outside of his foot to bend one into the bottom corner from outside the box. It is just stunning from the defender on his Premier League debut. Well, that has woken up the home supporters here!
Arsenal might have fancied coming to St Mary's and dominating this match, but Southampton have not read the script and are really forcing the issue at the moment. That strike from Martina has woken everyone up and Wenger now does not look too comfortable in his seat on the bench.
Ian Wright acknowledges the goal from Martina...
Great goal 😡
— Ian Wright (@IanWright0) December 26, 2015
Another half-chance for the home team as Ward-Prowse drives to the edge of the Arsenal box, but the England Under-21 international can only screw his effort wide of Cech's far-hand post.
Ward-Prowse has another sight of goal for Southampton, but once again, his effort is wide of the target. The Saints midfielder is seeing plenty of the ball in the final third of the field here.
A mistake from the Arsenal defence almost allows Southampton a clear shot on goal, but after a poor piece of play from Koscielny, Davis cannot take advantage and the danger is eventually cleared. Long was the player that was on the shoulder of Koscileny when the mistake was made.
Little under 15 minutes of the first period remaining and Arsenal are just struggling to play their football at the moment. The credit must to to Southampton for their high-pressing game here.
We have not seen Ozil in this game thus far and the German is currently having a bit of handbags with Clasie, who has done a job on the attacker thus far. Still 1-0 to the Saints at St Mary's.
Long has the ball in the back of the net after battling with Mertesacker, but the referee had blown for a foul on the Arsenal centre-back. Long is causing problems with his pace and movement.
BOOKING! Long (Saints) is booked for dissent.
Arsenal have managed to regain control of the possession in the last few minutes, but Southampton have been nice and solid at the back in this first half of action. Smart work from Bellerin wins a corner for the visitors, but Stekelenburg is on hand to claim with confidence.
Safe to say that the Southampton fans are not too pleased with the performance of referee Jon Moss this evening, with the majority of the decisions seemingly going to Arsenal. Walcott has a half-chance for the visitors after darting into the box, but his low effort is straight at Stekelenburg.
Arsenal build down the left and have another half-chance when Ramsey delivers a low cross towards Giroud, but Ward-Prowse manages to chest behind for a corner. The resulting set piece is delivered into the head of Walcott, but under no pressure, the winger heads wide of the post.
End-to-end football in the last couple of minutes as both teams commit players in the final third. Walcott is looking the most likely for Arsenal, while Mane is causing problems for the hosts.
CHANCE! Wonderful chance for Southampton to make it 2-0 as Mane delivers a super pass into Long, who heads down into the Arsenal box, but the striker lifts his effort over Cech and over the crossbar. It is a serious opportunity missed for Long and indeed for Southampton!
Just the one additional minute to be played at the end of this first period.
HALF-TIME: Southampton 1-0 Arsenal
So there we have it. The referee brings the first period to a close and Southampton lead Arsenal 1-0 courtesy of a stunning strike from Martina, who found the bottom corner with a curling effort in the 19th minute. Arsenal have had their moments in the final third, but Long also passed up a wonderful chance to make it 2-0 Southampton late in the first period. Cracking game thus far here!
STATS! Arsenal have dominated the possession with 62%, while they have had five attempts - two of which were on target. Southampton, meanwhile, have only hit the target with one of their six attempts, but it brought the opening goal. Just the one yellow to report - Long in the book for the Saints.
BENCH WATCH! Southampton are without their leading scorer Pelle this evening due to a knee problem, but Koeman does have both Juanmi and Tadic on his bench tonight, in addition to Gaston Ramirez. Arsenal, meanwhile, have attacking options in the shape of Oxlade-Chamberlain and Iwobi. In truth, there is not a great deal of experience on the away side's bench this evening.
RESTART! Here we go then - both sets of players rejoin us on the pitch for the second period. Can Arsenal respond? They need all three points to end the night at the top of the Premier League table. As it stands, however, Southampton are moving onto 24 points. Right, the visitors resume the action...
... no changes from either side at the break in terms of personnel, but you sense that both managers will start to consider alterations around the hour mark if the score is still 1-0.
Half-chance for the home side as Mane uses his pace to drive into the Arsenal box, but his low cross just asked too much of Davis, who could not make contact. Mane again with the threat.
You just get the feeling that the game's next goal - if there indeed is one - could be vital. It is difficult to imagine Arsenal coming from 2-0 behind at this stage of the match, but an equaliser would surely make the visitors favourites to go on and claim all the points. All to play for here!
GOAL DISALLOWED! Southampton once again have the ball in the back of the net as Van Dijk heads a Ward-Prowse free kick into the back of the net, but the flag was raised. It was very, very tight, but just about the right call. Cech took a whack there and is still down, meanwhile.
Cech is back on his feet and looks likely to continue. Good news.
Mane and Long continue to cause problems to the Arsenal defence and the visitors are slightly fortunate not to concede a foul in a dangerous area when Ward-Prowse goes down under pressure from Monreal. Arsenal just do not look comfortable with this high-pressing game from the hosts.
GOAL! Southampton 2-0 Arsenal (Long)
Arsenal have conceded a second here as Long sets up Mane, before the 23-year-old returns the favour and Long cannot miss from inside the box. Poor defending from the visitors, but another fine goal from Southampton, who now have clear daylight early in this second period here.
Little over 30 minutes of this contest remaining and Arsenal are really struggling. Victory would have taken the Gunners to the top of the table, but they have some serious work to do.
Long is getting through a lot of work at the moment and Arsenal's centre-back pairing just do not look comfortable. You sense that there is another goal coming, however, and one for Arsenal would make it game on with still 30 minutes to play. End-to-end football at the moment here.
Stekelenburg gets down to deny Ramsey as Arsenal break forward once again.
Arsenal are preparing to introduce Oxlade-Chamberlain here...
... ARSENAL SUB! Oxlade-Chamberlain replaces Campbell.
Long is flagged offside for what seems like the 100th time this evening, but the Republic of Ireland international has been an absolute menace to the Arsenal back four. Maybe Pelle's knee injury was blessing in disguise for Southampton, who have had so much movement in the final third.
SAINTS SUB! Romeu replaces Clasie for the home side.
Little over 20 minutes of this contest remaining and Southampton are very much in control of their own destiny. Long's pace continues to cause problems as he wins a corner from Kosicleny, who has had a rotten game at the heart of the Arsenal defence. Still plenty of this game left to play though.
GOAL! Southampton 3-0 Arsenal (Fonte)
Three for Southampton! The home side surely wrap up all the points here as Fonte rises inside the Arsenal box and powers his header into the back of the net. It was a super corner from Ward-Prowse and Fonte was too strong in the air. It has been a miserable old night for the Gunners!
SAINTS SUB! Tadic replaces Ward-Prowse for the home team.
Arsenal look like they could concede a couple more goals as Southampton continue to put the pressure on. Where on earth has this performance come from! Southampton have been excellent against an under-par Arsenal team, who will seemingly pass up the chance to go top of the table.
The handbags are out as Wanyama clashes with Ramsey in the centre of the park.
ARSENAL SUB! Chambers replaces Flamini for the away team.
Cech is forced to shuffle across to keep out a strike from Tadic as Arsenal continue to struggle at the back. Southampton are in the mood to score a couple more goals in this game.
Better from Arsenal in the last couple of minutes as Ozil delivers a couple of excellent balls into the Southampton box, but Fonte and Van Dijk take it in turns to clear the danger for the hosts.
ARSENAL SUB! Walcott is replaced by Iwobi for the away side.
Ozil delivers another free kick into the Southampton box, but once again it is a confident claim from the home side's goalkeeper, who collects before releasing down-field. The home supporters are in fine voice at the moment and why not? Their team has been very, very good this evening.
CHANCE! Arsenal come close to registering as Ozil reacts first to a low cross, but his poked effort towards the bottom corner is cleared at the final moment. Not Arsenal's night here!
SAINTS SUB! Juanmi replaces Mane for the home team.
Good pressure from Arsenal in the last couple of minutes, but Van Dijk and Fonte have both been excellent at the heart of the Southampton defence and the pair continue to clear their lines. Down the other end, Long attempts to head a Tadic cross past Cech, but the Arsenal stopper claims.
Giroud loops a header into the arms of Stekelenburg as the Saints keep their clean sheet in tact.
Not an awful lot to report in terms of chances at the moment, but Southampton's pace in the final third is still making this an uncomfortable game for Arsenal, who will have the chance to return to winning ways then they face Bournemouth on Monday. The Gunners need to bounce back there!
POST! Long breaks through on goal once again, but after putting his effort out of the reach of Cech, the ball hits the post and bounces away. Arsenal just cannot live with Long tonight!
Four minutes have been added at the end of the 90.
GOAL! Southampton 4-0 Arsenal (Long)
Southampton have their fourth of the match as Long's pace once again takes him past the Arsenal defence and the striker finishes between the legs of Cech, who might have done a little better!
Rotten night for Arsenal, wonderful night for Southampton!
Tadic curls one over the crossbar as Arsenal continue to struggle in this match.
FULL-TIME: Southampton 4-0 Arsenal
Wow! What a night for Southampton! The home side score four goals without reply against Arsenal to return to winning ways in the Premier League. The hosts remain 12th, but this win is massive in terms of their season. Arsenal, meanwhile, have missed the chance to take top spot in the table. Thanks for joining Sports Mole for another wonderful game of football. Until next time!
Written by
Matt Law
Matt Law
