Arsenal stun Southampton as Sanchez scores late winner

LONDON: Alexis Sanchez´s late strike saw Arsenal edge Premier League top-four rivals Southampton 1-0 on Wednesday as Arsene Wenger´s side closed to within two points of the Champions League places.

The Chilean forward netted his 14th goal of the season in the 89th minute by slotting home from Aaron Ramsey´s pull-back to puncture a bubble of growing frustration at the Emirates Stadium.

It was cruel on visiting goalkeeper Fraser Forster, who had produced excellent saves to keep out Danny Welbeck and substitute Olivier Giroud in the second half.

The last-gasp victory moved Arsenal above Swansea City into sixth place, two points behind fourth-place Manchester United, while Southampton remain third after back-to-back losses.

Following Southampton´s 3-0 home defeat by defending champions Manchester City on Sunday, there was a degree of pressure on Ronald Koeman´s side to prove their top-four credentials.

Would an impressive start to the season turn into a collapse, or was it only a blip? The opening 45 minutes in north London suggested the latter and Koeman would have been the happier manager as he began his half-time team talk.

Nonetheless, Arsenal created the first chance of the game in the seventh minute. Welbeck, fresh from his weekend winner at West Bromwich Albion, was sent clear down the left by a precise through ball from Santi Cazorla, but he slotted wide of the target.

The visitors then suffered a blow when Jack Cork appeared to roll his ankle following a challenge from Ramsey. The midfielder struggled on until the 29th minute, when he was replaced by Maya Yoshida.

By that time, Southampton had missed the best chance of the first half courtesy of main striker Graziano Pelle. (AFP)