For the first time in a fair while, Arsenal are looking up the table rather than down as they welcome Southampton to the Emirates Stadium this afternoon.
Back-to-back 3-0 wins, albeit unconvincing in their delivery, and Chelsea's dire run of form has seen the Gunners move to within five points of the fifth-placed reigning Premier League champions.
Another loss for Mark Hughes & Co. could all but confirm their end-of-season fate but the Gunners may have one eye on their Europa League quarter-final second leg against CSKA Moscow.
The match will be televised live on Sky Sports Football and Sky Sports Main Event,. Sky Sports subscribers can stream the match online via SkyGo and the SkyGo app.
Follow all the Emirates Stadium action with Standard Sport’s live blog!
Live Updates
3 minutes ago
60 mins: A bit of the energy has gone out of this game, it's all a bit slow now. Southampton don't look like they have the ideas to win it.
8 minutes ago
56 mins: Off the line! Mustafi hacks the ball away for a corner when he maybe didn't need to and then gets beaten at the near post by Hoedt, whose flicked header is cleared from danger by Elneny.
12 minutes ago
52 mins: Space opens up for Iwobi just outside the box and he has no hesitation in shooting, another low shot that draws a very good save from McCarthy.
YELLOW CARD
14 minutes ago
50 mins: Bellerin drags back Long as he tries to lead a Southampton counter. There's no question that that is a booking.
17 minutes ago
48 mins: An impudent back heel from Nelson in the area finds Elneny, who shifts the ball on to Xhaka before a low shot from the Swiss midfielder. It looks to be arrowing into the bottom corner before McCarthy tips it away very well.
20 minutes ago
46 mins: Aubameyang gets the ball rolling for the second period.
21 minutes ago
Southampton are back out for what could be a crucial second half in their bid for survival.
SOCIAL
34 minutes ago
Here's James Olley's take at the break:
35 minutes ago
HT: A horrendous start but Arsenal are back in front and look in cruise control after goals from Aubameyang and the fast improving Welbeck. They end the half camped in the Southampton area once more but there's concern for Saints, whose best hope of an equaliser is more calamity defending from the Gunners.
38 minutes ago
43 mins: Yeah Welbeck is really feeling his game now! Aubameyang drifts wide and Welbeck goes infield. When the cross comes in he's ready for an overhead kick but Hoedt flicks away with his head before it reaches the Arsenal man.
42 minutes ago
GOAL (37 mins): That assist has brought renewed confidence to Welbeck's game and he's now running forward with purpose. When he gets to 18 yards out he lets fly, the ball deflecting off Yoshida and into the net.
GOAL!
44 minutes ago
Arsenal 2-1 Southampton | Danny Welbeck | 37'
46 minutes ago
35 mins: As does Xhaka, who gets it well over the wall without bringing it back down.
48 minutes ago
34 mins: Arsenal are starting to ratchet up the pressure. First Chambers goes close with an acrobatic overhead kick from a corner and then Welbeck is brought down 25 yards out by a heavy challenge by Romeu. Aubameyang stands over the free-kick.
49 minutes ago
30 mins: Aubameyang now has six goals and an assist in his first seven Premier League matches. No Arsenal player had ever managed more than six (Ian Wright, Davor Suker, Gervinho and Mesut Ozil). So the new man's career is going one of two ways...
53 minutes ago
GOAL (28 mins): A quite exquisite flick around the corner by Welbeck and Aubameyang dives ahead of a Southampton defender to toe poke the ball past McCarthy.
GOAL!
53 minutes ago
Arsenal 1-1 Southampton | Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang | 28'
55 minutes ago
26 mins: It gives you a sense of how slim the margins are at this ground that every sideways pass is greeted with fury by at least one fan around us in the press box, that the atmosphere has turned febrile because Arsenal are losing after five straight wins at home.
58 minutes ago
23 mins: Boos are ringing around the Emirates and a few fans are muttering as they head to the loos or for a very early half-time pint. Their mood isn't improved when Aubameyang is offside chasing a Nelson through ball.
1 hour ago
GOAL (17 mins): Horrific defending from Arsenal's two most senior defenders on the pitch. A cross from the left byline takes a deflection off Kolasinac but that's no excuse for Mustafi and Cech both gesturing to the other to claim the ball. Long ghosts between them to score his second goal in 48 games.
Next
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Team news
Arsenal XI: Cech, Bellerin, Chambers, Mustafi, Kolasinac, Elneny, Xhaka, Iwobi, Nelson, Welbeck, Aubameyang
Subs: Lacazette, Wilshere, Ozil, Holding, Monreal, Macey, Nketiah
Southampton XI: McCarthy, Cedric, Stephens, Hoedt, Yoshida, Bertrand, Ward-Prowse, Hojbjerg, Romeu, Tadic, Long
Subs: Austin, Boufal, Gabbiadini, Redmond, Pied, Sims, Forster
Referee: Andre Marriner (West Midlands)
