Alexis Sanchez and Olivier Giroud were on target as Arsenal won 2-0 at Southampton yesterday 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.
Next fixtures
Tomorrow: 20.45 Everton vs Watford; 21.00 West Brom vs Chelsea.
Saturday: 13.30 Manchester City vs Leicester City; 16.00 Bournemouth vs Burnley, Middlesbrough vs Southampton, Sunderland vs Swansea City; 18.30 Stoke City vs Arsenal.
Sunday: 13.00 Crystal Palace vs Hull City; 15.15 West Ham United vs Liverpool; 17.30 Tottenham Hotspur vs Manchester United.