Summary

  • Arsenal miss chance to go top

  • Saints had not won in previous six games

  1. MOTD till midnightpublished at 22:15

    Right, what are you lot still doing here?

    It is 22:30 GMT and there is only one place to be and that is watching Match of the Day, with Match of the Day Social to accompany you.

    See you over there.

  2. Saints go climbing uppublished at 22:12

    Southampton 4-0 Arsenal

    Southampton tableImage source, Opta

    And Southampton can breathe a little easier.

    Based on their performance today, they will be a lot higher in the hit parade come May.

  3. Top of the leaguepublished at 22:09

    Southampton 4-0 Arsenal

    Premier LeagueImage source, Opta

    This is what the north end of the Premier League looks like.

    Leicester still safe and sound in top slot despite defeat today.

  4. Get involvedpublished at 22:07 Greenwich Mean Time 26 December 2015

    #bbcfootball

  5. "Passion and togetherness"published at 22:06 Greenwich Mean Time 26 December 2015

    Southampton 4-0 Arsenal

    Jose FonteImage source, Getty Images

    Southampton skipper Jose Fonte talking to BT Sport: "It was imperative that we had a reaction and today we showed passion and togetherness to change the bad run we were on. I'm very happy with our performance and the result.

    "The plan before the game was to be ourselves - a hard-working team, quality up front and defending well as a team. We showed today we are still a very good team and from now it gives us good confidence to go on a good run."

  6. Get involvedpublished at 22:00 Greenwich Mean Time 26 December 2015

    #bbcfootball

  7. "We did not play well enough"published at 21:59 Greenwich Mean Time 26 December 2015

    Southampton 4-0 Arsenal

    Arsenal

    Arsene WengerImage source, Reuters

    Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger talking to BT Sport: "We lost too many challenges today, they were sharper than us. I think we were unlucky as well, their first shot on goal went into the top corner from the right back, the second goal came after a foul on Koscielny.

    "It's a disappointing result but I have to say well done to Southampton. The referee let a lot go but when you're not dominant in challenges that is the price you have to pay.

    "The title is down to consistency to fight in every single game and produce a performance. Today was a very physical game and we didn't play well enough."

  8. "A fantastic performance"published at 21:55

    Southampton 4-0 Arsenal

    Southampton

    Southampton manager Ronald Koeman talking to BT Sport: "It was a fantastic performance against a good Arsenal team - that's a big compliment to the players..We caused them lots of problems up front through Mane and Long. Perfect performance today.

    "Normally I keep criticism of my players inside but sometimes people need to know what the manager is thinking. We showed fantastic belief in everybody and showed how good we are today if we play at our level.

    "The second half was far better than the first, some good goals and maybe more chances to score more."

    Ronald KoemanImage source, Getty Images
  9. Postpublished at 21:52 Greenwich Mean Time 26 December 2015

    RUNING ORDERImage source, .

    It is a bumper Match of the Day this evening, with all 20 Premier League teams in action.

    Watch from 22:30 on BBC One, with Southampton v Arsenal first up.

    You may want to put the kettle on Gunners' fans.

  10. Postpublished at 21:52 Greenwich Mean Time 26 December 2015

    Southampton 4-0 Arsenal

    Ronald Koeman has just popped up in front of the television cameras, all wry smiles and barely contained glee.

    Arsene Wenger is next in the queue. He is not sparing his side too much, telling them that they were second best in too many challenges.

    Full quotes to come very shortly.

  11. Postpublished at 21:49 Greenwich Mean Time 26 December 2015

    Southampton 4-0 Arsenal

    Steve Claridge
    BBC Radio 5 Live at St Mary's

    The team that wins the league this season will drop a lot of points. Normally there will be a team that won't allow you to do that. This year every one is fallible and everyone looks to have weaknesses which don't look likely to change. Nobody look the finish article so I think it will be topsy, turvy until the end end.

  12. Southampton 4-0 Arsenalpublished at 21:44 Greenwich Mean Time 26 December 2015

    Jose Fonte (number six) and Juanmi (No 20) combined before Dusan Tadic set Shane Long free to score his second of the match. 

    Nothing too fancy about any of that...

    Shane Long's second goalImage source, Opta
    Image caption,

    Shane Long's second goal

  13. "They did not like the pace in behind"published at 21:43 Greenwich Mean Time 26 December 2015

    Southampton 4-0 Arsenal

    Southampton

    Shane Long celebratesImage source, Reuters

    Southampton striker Shane Long speaking to BT Sport: "We knew we were a good enough team, but it was not happening in the last few weeks. We went out there with the idea of fighting hard for each other firstly and hoping the play comes from there. They did not like the pace in behind from me and Sadio and we played on that.

    "It was a good day all round, but we have got a hard game coming up in two days' time against West Ham."

    On opening goalscorer Cuco Martina: "He's been brilliant in training, worked really hard and deserved his chance in the team. He deserved the goal and that performance today."

  14. Postpublished at 21:39 Greenwich Mean Time 26 December 2015

    Southampton 4-0 Arsenal

    Steve Claridge
    BBC Radio 5 Live at St Mary's

    With the spread of the money in the league, it's allowing the lesser sides, so to speak, to compete. There's been a definite levelling out.

    This does not flatter Southampton, they were fantastic. They had a game-plan and stuck to it. The first goal was massively important. They got it got it and then exploited Arsenal's weaknesses. On the flip side, Arsenal were awful.

  15. Postpublished at FT

    Southampton 4-0 Arsenal

    Arsenal have had the look of champions in the past few weeks.

    Today they looked like mid-table fodder at best, short of cutting edge and, more worryingly, fighting spirit.

    Perhaps today was the day when the injuries to the likes of Alexis Sanchez, Santi Cazorla and Francis Coquelin caught up with them.

  16. FULL-TIMEpublished at 21:36 Greenwich Mean Time 26 December 2015

    Southampton 4-0 Arsenal

    Petr Cech looks dejectedImage source, Reuters

  17. Postpublished at 21:36 Greenwich Mean Time 26 December 2015

    Southampton 4-0 Arsenal

    Steve Claridge
    BBC Radio 5 Live at St Mary's

    Arsenal have looked vulnerable to that ball in behind all night. They have got away with four. 

  18. Long time comingpublished at 90+2 mins

    Southampton 4-0 Arsenal

    Shane Long scoresImage source, Reuters

    Arsenal's defence is shredded by Shane Long's pace once more and this time the finish sticks.

    Juanmi lays the ball into oceans of space behind an Arsenal defence playing far too high and Long advances to squeeze the ball between Petr Cech's legs for a humiliating fourth.

  19. goal

    GOAL - Southampton 4-0 Arsenalpublished at 90+1 mins

    Shane Long

    Shane Long celebratesImage source, Reuters

  20. Postpublished at 21:33 Greenwich Mean Time 26 December 2015

    Southampton 3-0 Arsenal

    Steve Claridge
    BBC Radio 5 Live at St Mary's

    I don't think we can under-estimate what that first goal from Martina did. If Arsenal had scored first we would have had to see a different performance from Southampton. As it is, it's worked perfectly for them.