Southampton 0-2 Arsenal: Premier League - as it happened

Well that brings an end to our live coverage for another night. We're back with live coverage of Manchester United vs Celta Vigo in the second leg of the Europa League semi-final tomorrow night. But until then, it's goodbye.

Chants of "Wenger Out!" come from the away end at full time but the Arsenal support do have something to shout about.

They now trail Manchester City by three points with three games left, and four behind Liverpool with a game in hand. Jurgen Klopp's side must win their last two games to secure a top four spot, but any slip up will let the Gunners in.

Full time: Southampton 0-2 Arsenal

Arsenal's Champions League remain alive after they overcome a limp Southampton at St Mary's. Alexis Sanchez goes to 20 league goals for the season and he opened the game up with a superb opener and by the time Olivier Giroud had netted a second they had complete control of the contest. Saints played like a team with nothing but mid-table position to play for.

Three added minutes by the looks of things. Time for another for Arsenal?

GOAL! Southampton 0-2 Arsenal (Olivier Giroud)

Too easy and Arsenal are going to win at Southampton for the first time for 14 years. Aaron Ramsey heads across goal from Sanchez's raking pass and Giroud rises unchallenged to head past Forster.

Alexis Sanchez celebrates putting Arsenal ahead.

Jay Rodriguez and Olivier Giroud on for each side. Ten minutes left. Will we see a second goal?

Southampton have found a second wind here and Boufal is always willing to make something happen. He twists and turns on the edge of the Arsenal box but when he takes aim if flies out of play; closer to Portsmouth than the goal.

Boufal and Long on for Southampton. Redmond and Ward-Prowse off.

Xhaka's drive is pushed away by Forster as Arsenal look to put the game to bed. One-way traffic since the goal.

Watch Alexis Sanchez goal which has put Arsenal in front at Southampton.

GOAL! Southampton 0-1 Arsenal (Alexis Sanchez)

A shocking game lite up by a fantastic goal. Sanchez plays the ball into space for Xhaka to run onto to and when Ozil plays a first time pass back to the Chilean he takes the ball in his stride cuts inside two Southampton defenders and hammers past Forster. Brilliant finish and the one moment of quality leads to the opening goal. Thank the lord.

Not a great night so far for Alexis Sanchez.

Foul throw from Alexis Sanchez. Not good. Though it is his most worthwhile contribution of the evening.

Back underway at St Mary's. No changes at the break.

No shots on target from Arsenal in that first half and yet this is a game they have to win. Southampton have not been much better with Cech having to save from Gabbiadini and Redmond. But my goodness, entertainment has been at a premium.

Half time: Southampton 0-0 Arsenal

I give up, go and watch the Madrid derby. This is a horrible game.

Only two added minute, mercilessly.

Yellow card for James Ward-Prowse who hauls back Danny Welbeck who was away as Arsenal broke forward.

Nathan Redmond illuminates a terrible first half with the stand-out moment, a flashing drive which forces Cech into turning the ball over the bar. Fine save by the Arsenal stopper.

Shkodran Mustafi flies in with a tackle where he wins the ball but Jon Moss awards a free-kick. The less I say about Moss the better I would think.

Gabbiadini is the favourite from the set-piece and he curls wide of goal. Cech unmoved.

Hector Bellerin on for Arsenal. Nine minutes to go until half time, and that can't come soon enough.

Jack Stephens tackles brilliantly to deny Mesut Ozil the chance to take aim. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is down meanwhile receiving treatment and he looks like he's going off. His return to St Mary's has lasted 35 minutes.

Chance for Southampton as Tadic's shot is deflected to Gabbiadini, but Cech makes a crucial save. Arsenal have been lacklustre to say the least.

Southampton and Arsenal were not involved the most thrilling of games on Sunday and that curse has followed them tonight. Not a great opening 25 minutes, and coupled with the drama of what is happening in Madrid you can imagine my mood at the moment.

Two early goals at the Calderon where Atletico are playing Real Madrid in the second Champions League semi-final. But for whom? Head this way to our live blog to find out.

Five defeats in Arsenal's last six away games means they could be sitting ducks tonight at St Mary's. The visitors do force a corner however as Aaron Ramsey gallops forward.

And it is the Welshman who has the chance to open the scoring but rather snatches at the shot from 15 yards. To be honest, it was a sitter. Should be 1-0.

Much more energy about Southampton in these opening minutes. Nathan Redmond sees his shot deflected side as the hosts press. Arsenal have barely got out of their own half.

Saints were horribly negative in the draw at Liverpool and they have show more intent in the opening minutes here than in the entire 90 on Sunday. Steven Davis has the first effort on goal, side-footing high and wide after three minutes.

Claude Puel and Arsene Wenger shake hands before kick-off. The Saints was part of the team which faced the Gunners boss in his first game as a manager in France. Nice stat as we kick off on the south coast.

The teams have emerged at St Mary's and we're almost ready to go. Big game this for Arsenal, while it could be worth another £15m to the Saints. Updates on the way.

Claude Puel is hardly the most motivating of managers in the Premier League. Listen to the Frenchman's pre-match thoughts here.

Southampton are bidding to beat Arsenal in a home league for the third time in a row, something they haven't done for 32 years. They got thrashed in the FA Cup earlier in the year but is tonight the night?

Is there in-fighting behind the scenes at Arsenal? After Arsene Wenger ruled out operating underneath a director of football, is chief executive Ivan Gazidis on the way out? It does seem to be a case of them and us about operations in north London - but who will be the first to leave?

Arsene Wenger keeping a watchful over his players' warm-up. Will he be there next season to oversea operations.

St Mary's in fine fettle before kick-off.

Many will claim that Southampton have nothing to play for tonight. Europe is mathematically out of the equation, while their place in the top flight is secure for another season. But the powers that be will be urging the club to keep focused.

Saints could feasibly still finish 17th in the Premier League, a position which would bring in £108m to the club based on prize money and TV revenue. But if they could finish eighth - the highest position available to them between now and the end of the season - that fee ratchets up to £123m.

That extra £15m could be pretty handy come the summer transfer window when manager Claude Puel - should he indeed stay on - has the chance to improve his resources. Food for thought for those writing this off as a dead rubber.

Let's not kid ourselves shall we, this game is all about Arsenal and their hopes of reaching the Champions League. Fans of Manchester City, Liverpool and even Manchester United will be tuning into this hoping for another slip-up from the north Londoners.

Failure to win tonight, in fact in any of their last four games, will surely consign Arsenal to a campaign in the Europa League. And even then, 12 points might not be enough to secure a top four berth.

Two changes for Southampton from the stalemate at Anfield. Cedric comes in at right-back, while Nathan Redmond makes his customary return for a home fixture.

One alteration for Arsenal and it comes at the back where Shkodran Mustafi replaces Laurent Koscielny. Granit Xhaka recovers from a calf injury to start.

Teams are in from St Mary's......

Arsenal are in place on the south coast. Do or die in their pursuit of the Champions League tonight.

Southampton's all-time appearance maker Terry Paine is optimistic his former side can make an impression tonight against Arsenal.

Teams should be with us in around 25 minutes, but how might both sides line up?

Southampton have no fresh injury problems after the draw at Liverpool. Charlie Austin and Matt Targett are both in contention.

Arsenal are without defender Laurent Koscielny due to a calf problem. Granit Xhaka could feature however despite going off with a similar injury against Manchester United.

As the sun begins to the set on this 2016-17 Premier League season, the narratives of the campaign are coming to a close but as the respective battles for the championship and relegation are seemingly close to being decided, one story-line remains unresolved. The race for Champions League qualification contains a four-pronged plot and tonight sees Arsenal as the latest side to audition for a berth in Europe's premier club competition at Southampton.

The Gunners saw off Manchester United to keep their dreams and Arsene Wenger's hopes of continuing his 100% record of reaching the competition in each of the 20 season of his tenure, very much alive. The clash at St Mary's is their long-awaited game in hand over all the sides around them and gives them a chance to make-up some much needed ground.

Southampton's European ambitions are firmly over, with only a few precious millions to play for in mid-table. They could go eighth tonight with a win which would be their third on the trot at home in the league over Arsenal - the first time in 32 years they will have achieved that feat.

Team news and updates on the way ahead of the 7:45pm kick-off.