Arsenal earned precious points to keep alive their hopes of a top-four Premier League finish as second-half goals from Alexis Sanchez and Olivier Giroud made them victorious against Southampton on Wednesday.
After an ordinary first half, Sanchez produced a moment of magic to open the scoring when the Chilean wrong-footed two defenders in the box before hitting to net the ball.
Substitute Giroud then made the win safe by nodding in from close range minutes after coming onto the pitch.
Southampton’s best chance came in the first half when Manolo Gabbiadini forced a fine save out of Peter Cech from close range. They sit at 10th slot at present.
The win means Arsenal move above Manchester United into fifth, three points behind fourth-placed Manchester City.
Points table:
| Team | P | GD | Pts | ||
| 1 | Chelsea | 35 | 46 | 84 | |
| 2 | Tottenham | 35 | 48 | 77 | |
| 3 | Liverpool | 36 | 29 | 70 | |
| 4 | Man City | 35 | 33 | 69 | |
| 5 | Arsenal | 35 | 26 | 66 | |
| 6 | Man Utd | 35 | 24 | 65 | |
| 7 | Everton | 36 | 19 | 58 | |
| 8 | West Brom | 35 | -4 | 45 | |
| 9 | Leicester | 35 | -9 | 43 | |
| 10 | Southampton | 35 | -7 | 42 | |
| 11 | Bournemouth | 36 | -13 | 42 | |
| 12 | West Ham | 36 | -14 | 42 | |
| 13 | Stoke | 36 | -13 | 41 | |
| 14 | Burnley | 36 | -14 | 40 | |
| 15 | Watford | 35 | -21 | 40 | |
| 16 | Crystal Palace | 36 | -15 | 38 | |
| 17 | Swansea | 36 | -28 | 35 | |
| 18 | Hull | 36 | -33 | 34 | |
| 19 | Middlesbrough | 36 | -22 | 28 | |
| 20 | Sunderland | 35 | -32 | 24 | |
