Alexis Sanchez scored just before full time to give Arsenal a 1-0 win over Southampton at the Emirates Stadium in the Premier League this evening.
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Danny Welbeck, who scored the winner in the Gunners' victory over West Bromwich Albion at the weekend, had a chance to get on the scoresheet again early on when he met a through-ball from Santi Cazorla, but his finish was well wide.
Southampton's first chance fell to Graziano Pelle as Steven Davis headed the ball on for the Italian, but he failed to trouble Damian Martinez with the finish.
Fraser Forster came under pressure towards the end of the first half as Arsenal continued to push for an opening goal, but the Saints keeper denied Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain as he tried to fire in from a Sanchez cross.
Forster was called on again before the break as Cazorla curled the ball in from a free kick, leaving Welbeck with a simple header, but the England international made a fingertip stop to deny the striker.
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Southampton looked lively after the restart as Nathaniel Clyne tried to set up Pelle just a few minutes into the second half, but the striker fired wide.
Olivier Giroud came off the bench to give Arsenal some extra fire power, and he came close to finding the back of the net but could not get the better of Forster.
The hosts continued to look the more likely in the closing stages as Lukas Podolski created some space on the edge of the box, but a weak finish left Forster with a comfortable stop.
The visitors had to finish the match with 10 men after Toby Alderweireld picked up a knock after Ronald Koeman had made all three of his changes.
The Gunners almost made the most of their numerical advantage in the final moments as Giroud unleashed a powerful strike, but Forster continued to frustrate the hosts.
The deadlock was finally broken with just a minute of normal time remaining as Sanchez tapped in from an Aaron Ramsey ball, clinching all three points for the Gunners.
The result leaves Arsenal fifth in the Premier League table, while Southampton stay third, just a point ahead of fourth-placed Manchester United.
Sian Cowper
