Southampton 4-0 Arsenal: Barclays Premier League - as it happened

Full time: Southampton 4-0 Arsenal

As comprehensive a win in the Premier League as you are likely to see this season. Southampton sweep aside Arsenal with their first win in December as Cuco Martina, Shane Long's double and Jose Fonte all score after the lifeless Gunners. Another twist in the title race as Manchester City close the gap, as Arsene Wenger's side miss the chance to go top.

Well that is all we time for on this live text. It has been a whirlwind of a day in the Premier League with shocks, stunning goals and drama at every turn. We do it all again on Monday 28 December with Manchester United vs Chelsea the headline game. Until then goodbye.

Goal: Southampton 4-0 Arsenal (Shane Long)

Shane Long has run his heart out tonight and he gets a deserved second in stoppage time. Long collects the ball between Mertesacker and Monreal, waits for Cech to go to ground before hammering home. Unbelievable.

Long should have made it four but his strikes the post with Cech all over the place. A passage of play which has summed up Arsenal tonight, sloppy in every area.

All done bar the shouting this one. Arsenal fans have seen enough and many are already making tracks for the trip back to north London. Southampton have been terrific tonight.

Almost a consolation for Arsenal but Ozil's effort trickles across the line and stays out. The north Londoners have been very poor tonight.

It has been one-way traffic at St Mary's and Southampton almost grab a fourth as Tadic shoots from range and it dips horribly on Petr Cech who is forced to punch the ball clear.

Goal: Southampton 3-0 Arsenal (Jose Fonte)

Game, set and match on the south coast and it hasn't even been close in fairness. Jose Fonte comes in unmarked and plants a header past Petr Cech to put the cherry on this Southampton performance. What a reaction this has been to Ronald Koeman's criticism.

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain on for Joel Campbell for Arsenal. Just under half an hour to go and yet you just can't see them making a comeback in this one. Famous last words....

Goal: Southampton 2-0 Arsenal (Shane Long)

Southampton double their lead and Arsenal look gone here. Mane springs free and after Shane Long and Laurent Koscielny clash, which sends the French defender sprawling, the Irish striker collects the cross and passes past Cech. Arsene Wenger is fuming but the goal stands, and you can't say it isn't deserved.

Ball in the net again for Southampton but it is chalked off for offside. Van Dijk beats Cech to the ball from a free-kick but Jose Fonte, who also goes for the ball, is fractionally offside as he heads the ball home. Cech has taken a knock in the process of the goal being scored but he is fine to continue.

Players out for the second half at St Mary's. No changes at the break and we're back under way.

Half time: Southampton 1-0 Arsenal

Cuco Martina's stunning strike has Southampton deservedly ahead at the break. Saints have hustled and harried the visitors and have unequivocally been the better side. Mesut Ozil has been quiet for Arsenal but the only positive for Arsene Wenger is the succession of missed chances that have come and gone for the hosts, with Shane Long the guilty party.

Shane Long with a horrible miss. The Irishman is played in by Mane, gets away from Mertesacker and as he goes to knick the ball over Cech he gets too much on it and the ball balloons over the bar.

Theo Walcott with another effort on goal, totally unmarked from an Ozil corner but he only finds the side-netting. Slight improvement from the Gunners.

Arsenal have been nowhere since going behind but finally they test Stekelenburg but Walcott's effort is weak and it is an easy save for the Dutchman.

Jordy Clasie and Mesut Ozil involved in a bit of handbags off the ball; a sign of the frustration that Arsenal are currently experiencing. Southampton have the ball in the net meanwhile but Shane Long is penalised for a tug on Mertesacker.

Arsenal contributing to their own problems and they should be two down. A long ball forward is mis-judged by Koscielny and Long steals in but his control lets him down before the loose ball falls to Davis who is off balance and can't make decent contact. The Gunners are rattled here, like they were at St Mary's 12 months ago.

Southampton in total command now since taking the lead and they come close to a second but James Ward-Prowse's radar is slightly askew and he curls over the bar from 20 yards.

Goal: Southampton 1-0 Arsenal (Cuco Martina)

You won't see a better strike all season I guarantee you. Per Mertesacker heads the ball clear and Martina comes onto the ball with the outside of his right foot and hits and absolute howitzer which flies past Petr Cech. Unbelievable strike.

Another opportunity for Arsenal as Campbell's cross in towards Giroud runs loose and Monreal runs onto it but is denied by Stekelenburg.

Arsenal's most cohesive move of the game and they carve Southampton wide open. Aaron Ramsey plays a superb pass to find Monreal but the Spaniard's cross is deflected onto the roof of the net.

Not must flow or structure to this game so far. Southampton seeing plenty of the ball but in areas that can't hurt Arsenal. Not a great game so far.

Under way at St Mary's and Arsenal have the first chance inside two minutes as Giroud heads over the bar from a corner.

Worth mentioning that Arsenal's players are wearing black armbands to mark the death of their former manager, the pioneering Don Howe, who passed away in the week.

Teams out at St Mary's. Good atmosphere made by both sets of supporters before kick-off. They have seen 18 of the Premier League's 20 clubs fight it out so far on this Boxing Day, but it is Arsenal and Southampton's turn to make an impression. Updates on the way.

After Leicester lost at Liverpool, Arsenal can go top of the Premier League tonight with a win at St Mary's. They overcame Man City on Monday to get everyone talking about them as potential title winners but can they do justice to that hype?Failure to win tonight will see the question mount of Arsene Wenger's side.

So a dramatic end to the game at St James' Park and that takes us nicely to our final game of the day as Southampton take on Arsenal. The Saints dismantled the Gunners on New Year's Day last season but they are a shadow of that side this term, with Ronald Koeman fearing a relegation battle is in the offing. Arsenal meanwhile swatted aside Manchester City on Monday and are the new favourites for the title. Tonight is another big step towards cementing themselves as the team to beat.

Less than 10 minutes to go at St James' Park and when they are done in the north east we will turn our attention fully to the game on the south coast.

Another line from that team news is Hector Bellerin makes his 50th Arsenal appearance.

Three changes for Southampton as Maarten Stekelenburg is recalled after a toe injury while there is a first Premier League start for Cuco Martina. James Ward-Prowse also plays with Graziano Pelle among the omissions. Arsenal are unchanged with Theo Walcott starting against his former club. Calum Chambers is on the bench on his return to St Mary's.

Teams:

Southampton: Stekelenburg; Martina, Fonte, Van Dijk, Bertrand; Clasie, Wanyama; Davis, Mane,Ward-Prowse; Long.

Arsenal: Cech, Bellerin, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Monreal; Ramsey, Flamini, Walcott, Ozil, Campbell, Giroud.

Teams should be with us any minute now but between then and now let's have a look at the team news ahead of this final Boxing Day match.

Ronald Koeman must choose whether to recall the fit again Maarten Stekelenburg or retain Paulo Gazzaniga in goal. The Saints have no other fitness concerns.

Arsenal are without seven first team players with Alexis Sanchez the latest addition to the treatment table. Mikel Arteta is the closest of the group to a return but he will not be risked at St Mary's.

Nine down and just one to go on this festive feast of football on Boxing Day. Congratulations to those who have stayed with me from Stoke vs Manchester United this morning and hopefully you will be rewarded with a fine game to cap the day. Our last match sees Southampton, who are on the brink of being hauled into a relegation battle according to manager Ronald Koeman, take on Arsenal who are most certainly in the title race having beaten Manchester City last time out. Arsene Wenger's side potentially face their best chance to win the title since they last finish top of the tree in 2004. Team news ahead of Southampton vs Arsenal to follow.