Per Mertesacker looked like he was treading in treacle as he chased after Shane Long in that latest Southampton chance.

Arsenal's defence has been better of late, but that is a weak link.

One that Barcelona might make even more of in the Champions League last 16.

Shane Long scampers in, slides the side-foot finish past Petr Cech, but only against the base of the post.

Southampton denied a scoreline-plumping fourth.

"One Ronald Koeman" chant the Southampton fans.

This has definitely been the sunny side of his Jekyll and Hyde team.

Image source, Reuters

Arsenal's fans are heading for the train station.

The exodus has begun. They will hope for better at home to Bournemouth on Monday.

Sadio Mane received a standing ovation as he was substituted and this graphic of his successful passes during the match illustrates why the Saints playmaker received such warm applause. 

Image source, Opta

Southampton are applying a salt massage to those Arsenal wounds.

There are four of them haring upfield in a swift counter and Shane Long cannot quite get over the top of Dusan Tadic's deep cross - the ball looping up off his head from Petr Cech to claim.

The best player on the pitch heads off it. Sadio Mane makes way for Juanmi and gets the standing ovation he deserves.

A low cross into the Southampton box. Olivier Giroud gets a touch, as does goalkeeper Maarten Stekelenburg and the ball runs agonisingly across the face of the goal and away to safety for the Saints.

Arsene Wenger rolls the dice again.

Off comes Theo Walcott, on comes Alex Iwobi.

The 19-year-old is Jay Jay Okocha's nephew. Arsenal need some of his uncle's magic now.

Mesut Ozil stands over a free-kick in a decent spot.

The big lads are up. Fifteen minutes to go. The Arsenal need something from this if they are to pull a point out of the hat.

Nope. Southampton clear with comfort to spare.

Steve Claridge
BBC Radio 5 Live at St Mary's

If you had £30m and could get hold of Wanyama you'd buy him tomorrow. He's a fantastic player.

A bit of midfield biff as Victor Wanyama snaps in on Aaron Ramsey, the Welshman reacts angrily and the pair lock antlers for a bit.

Referee Jon Moss pushes them apart and tells them to simmer down.

It was a corner. Just a corner. Simple but effective from the Saints. 

Image source, opt

It did not look like there was a lot of fight in the belly of this Arsenal team at two down.

At three, it is chin on chest time for the Gunners.

This will be a procession for the Saints in the final 20 minutes, barring something extraordinary.

Steve Claridge
BBC Radio 5 Live at St Mary's

It's a great run at the near post and a super ball in but he's the one that wants it. Fonte showed the greatest determination. It's a bonkers league. Arsenal have been so average tonight and it could have been worse.

Image source, Reuters

Goodnight Islington.

That is the Gunners as stuffed as the festive bird.

It is a routine third as Jose Fonte meets a corner with a bullet header at the near post.

Petr Cech  started to come off his line and decided against it. Maybe that spread some uncertainty among his defenders, but no-one came out of that looking good for the Gunners.