Arsenal 1 - 0 Southampton: Sanchez snatches win for Gunners
Posted Thursday, December 04, 2014 by PA
Alexis Sanchez fired Arsenal to a late 1-0 victory over Southampton at the Emirates Stadium to narrow the gap on the Barclays Premier League top four to two points.
Sanchez drilled home Aaron Ramsey's pass in the 88th minute following a frantic passage of play with the Gunners taking full advantage of Saints having been reduced to 10 men.
When Toby Alderweireld went off injured in the last 10 minutes, Southampton had already made all three permitted substitutions and as they became stretched Arsenal pounced.
Few chances fell at either end in an uninspiring first half that did little to alleviate the chill in north London with Saints striker Graziano Pelle guilty of one glaring miss from close range.
Southampton were livelier after the interval, attacking with greater intent than their strangely subdued opponents, whose quest to narrow the gap on the top four lacked urgency on a night of high frustration for home supporters.
The 65th-minute arrival of Olivier Giroud lifted Arsenal, although the substitution was not without controversy as Arsene Wenger's decision to sacrifice the lively Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain was met with boos.
Santi Cazorla had endured an error-prone night, but it was Oxlade-Chamberlain who made way in a performance that will only provide further ammunition to critics who believe the club is stagnating under Wenger.
Giroud was denied with three minutes to go after Southampton keeper Fraser Foster palmed his header to safety, but seconds later Sanchez plundered the winner as Saints cracked under the pressure.
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