Full Time: Southampton 0-2 Arsenal
Arsene Wenger’s Arsenal are truly back in contention for a place in the top-4 as they managed to take maximum points in the first of the two games they have in hand over teams around them in the points table. Alexis Sanchez came up with a brilliant move to slice open the Southampton centre-back partnership and managed to give Arsenal the lead, that was double by Giroud late in later in the game. Arsenal are now back to fifth place, just four points away from Liverpool in the third position. Here are the player ratings for the Gunners in this game:
Arsenal Player Ratings
Petr Cech (7)
Was in decent form going into the game and made a couple of superb saves to deny Southampton from this coming into the game.
Rob Holding (7)
Soon becoming the first choice for Wenger, Holding put in yet another good performance, handling the likes of Gabbiadini and Redmond with command.
Shkodran Mustafi (7)
Replaced Koscielny at the heart of the back three for Arsenal and hardly put a foot wrong, helping his side to a clean sheet.
Nacho Monreal (6)
Was off the radar on the night with his passing but put in a solid performance in a growingly influential role in this new formation.
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (6)
Started brightly for Arsenal but ended up painfully. He could not last even till the break, limping off with a hamstring injury.
Aaron Ramsey (8)
Arguably the most influential player on the pitch, Ramsey ran the show for the Gunners, never giving Southampton a sniff. Picked up an assist and was the Man of the Match as well.
Granit Xhaka (6)
Failed to show Aaron Ramsey’s command in midfield but played some exquisite passes that could have given Arsenal more goals.
Kieran Gibbs (6)
Stuck to his task well between the two boxes and kept it neat, helping his side to a comfortable victory.
Mesut Ozil (6)
Though he picked up the assist for Sanchez’s goal, he was just off colour yet again; something that will be a worry for Wenger.
Alexis Sanchez (7)
Arsenal made a slow start in the game and grew into it in the second and that was precisely the case with Sanchez as well. This is what he is. Two moments of brilliance in what was an ordinary game from him otherwise.
Danny Welbeck (6)
Looked blunt all game as he failed to impress. He looks to be slowly coming back into good shape and the signs are looking good.
Substitutes:
Hector Bellerin (6)
Got his chance, thanks to an injury to the OX and did not harm his reputation, putting in a decent shift.
Olivier Giroud (7)
The super sub that he is, Giroud latched on to Ramsey’s ball just minutes after being subbed on and scored the important second goal of the game to give Arsenal the cushion.
Francis Coquelin (N/A)A
Replaced the magical Mesut Ozil too late in the game to have any kind of an effect.