Arsenal's Olivier Giroud heads to score against Southampton Reuters Yet Sanchez became an increasingly pivotal figure after the break and opened the scoring with a fine piece of individual skill before playing a role in the second goal, crossing for Aaron Ramsey, who looped it up for Giroud to head in.
It was a pleasing night for Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger, whose side have hit form at the right time, following Sunday's 2-0 victory over top-four rivals Manchester United.
"The whole team was dynamic, focused and showed a convincing desire to win the game," Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger told the BBC.
Saints boss Claude Puel, however, was left to ponder his side's lack of a cutting edge.
"It’s often the same against the big six," he said. "We cannot find a win. Every time we play good quality football with chances but without the clinical edge and it’s harsh on the players."RESULT:Southampton 0 Arsenal 2 Alexis Sanchez 60, Olivier Giroud 83
Standings P W D L F A Pts 1 Chelsea 35 27 3 5 75 29 84 2 Tottenham Hotspur 35 23 8 4 71 23 77 3 Liverpool 36 20 10 6 71 42 704 Manchester City 35 20 9 6 70 37 69 5 Arsenal 35 20 6 9 68 42 666 Manchester United 35 17 14 4 51 27 65 7 Everton 36 16 10 10 60 41 588 West Bromwich Albion 35 12 9 14 41 45 45 9 Leicester City 35 12 7 16 45 54 43 10 Southampton 35 11 9 15 39 46 42 11 Bournemouth 36 11 9 16 52 65 42 12 West Ham United 36 11 9 16 45 59 42 13 Stoke City 36 10 11 15 39 52 41 14 Burnley 36 11 7 18 37 51 40 15 Watford 35 11 7 17 37 58 40 16 Crystal Palace 36 11 5 20 46 61 38 17 Swansea City 36 10 5 21 41 69 3518 Hull City 36 9 7 20 36 69 34 R19 Middlesbrough 36 5 13 18 26 48 28 R20 Sunderland 35 6 6 23 28 60 24Alexis Sanchez and Olivier Giroud were on target as Arsenal won 2-0 at Southampton on Wednesday to move up to fifth in the Premier League and fuel their hopes of a late push for the top four.
Sanchez broke the deadlock in the 60th minute of what had been a cagey game, selling the Saints defence a dummy before finishing left-footed for his 20th goal of the season, before Giroud headed a second with seven minutes remaining.
It was a fairly dismal evening for a Southampton side who had drawn their previous two games 0-0 and mustered few chances in another largely toothless display.
Arsenal moved above Manchester United into fifth on 66 points, three adrift of fourth-placed Manchester City with both having played 35 games. Arsene Wenger's side will also hope to reel in Liverpool, who have 70 points from 36.
For a long time it looked as if Arsenal would be frustrated by a resolute Southampton defence, while Petr Cech was the busier goalkeeper in the first half, making good saves to deny Manolo Gabbiadini and Nathan Redmond.
Arsenal's Olivier Giroud heads to score against Southampton Reuters Yet Sanchez became an increasingly pivotal figure after the break and opened the scoring with a fine piece of individual skill before playing a role in the second goal, crossing for Aaron Ramsey, who looped it up for Giroud to head in.
It was a pleasing night for Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger, whose side have hit form at the right time, following Sunday's 2-0 victory over top-four rivals Manchester United.
"The whole team was dynamic, focused and showed a convincing desire to win the game," Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger told the BBC.
Saints boss Claude Puel, however, was left to ponder his side's lack of a cutting edge.
"It’s often the same against the big six," he said. "We cannot find a win. Every time we play good quality football with chances but without the clinical edge and it’s harsh on the players."RESULT:Southampton 0 Arsenal 2 Alexis Sanchez 60, Olivier Giroud 83
Standings P W D L F A Pts 1 Chelsea 35 27 3 5 75 29 84 2 Tottenham Hotspur 35 23 8 4 71 23 77 3 Liverpool 36 20 10 6 71 42 704 Manchester City 35 20 9 6 70 37 69 5 Arsenal 35 20 6 9 68 42 666 Manchester United 35 17 14 4 51 27 65 7 Everton 36 16 10 10 60 41 588 West Bromwich Albion 35 12 9 14 41 45 45 9 Leicester City 35 12 7 16 45 54 43 10 Southampton 35 11 9 15 39 46 42 11 Bournemouth 36 11 9 16 52 65 42 12 West Ham United 36 11 9 16 45 59 42 13 Stoke City 36 10 11 15 39 52 41 14 Burnley 36 11 7 18 37 51 40 15 Watford 35 11 7 17 37 58 40 16 Crystal Palace 36 11 5 20 46 61 38 17 Swansea City 36 10 5 21 41 69 3518 Hull City 36 9 7 20 36 69 34 R19 Middlesbrough 36 5 13 18 26 48 28 R20 Sunderland 35 6 6 23 28 60 24
Arsenal's Olivier Giroud heads to score against Southampton Reuters Yet Sanchez became an increasingly pivotal figure after the break and opened the scoring with a fine piece of individual skill before playing a role in the second goal, crossing for Aaron Ramsey, who looped it up for Giroud to head in.
It was a pleasing night for Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger, whose side have hit form at the right time, following Sunday's 2-0 victory over top-four rivals Manchester United.
"The whole team was dynamic, focused and showed a convincing desire to win the game," Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger told the BBC.
Saints boss Claude Puel, however, was left to ponder his side's lack of a cutting edge.
"It’s often the same against the big six," he said. "We cannot find a win. Every time we play good quality football with chances but without the clinical edge and it’s harsh on the players."RESULT:Southampton 0 Arsenal 2 Alexis Sanchez 60, Olivier Giroud 83
Standings P W D L F A Pts 1 Chelsea 35 27 3 5 75 29 84 2 Tottenham Hotspur 35 23 8 4 71 23 77 3 Liverpool 36 20 10 6 71 42 704 Manchester City 35 20 9 6 70 37 69 5 Arsenal 35 20 6 9 68 42 666 Manchester United 35 17 14 4 51 27 65 7 Everton 36 16 10 10 60 41 588 West Bromwich Albion 35 12 9 14 41 45 45 9 Leicester City 35 12 7 16 45 54 43 10 Southampton 35 11 9 15 39 46 42 11 Bournemouth 36 11 9 16 52 65 42 12 West Ham United 36 11 9 16 45 59 42 13 Stoke City 36 10 11 15 39 52 41 14 Burnley 36 11 7 18 37 51 40 15 Watford 35 11 7 17 37 58 40 16 Crystal Palace 36 11 5 20 46 61 38 17 Swansea City 36 10 5 21 41 69 3518 Hull City 36 9 7 20 36 69 34 R19 Middlesbrough 36 5 13 18 26 48 28 R20 Sunderland 35 6 6 23 28 60 24