Are we about to see an Arsenal change? Looks like Theo Walcott. It was inevitable really because the Gunners look very short of ideas and even shorter of any penetration.

Eamon McGurk: Sorry but Flamini isn't good enough to play midfield in a team serious about a title shot!

Abdul Said: For 7 minutes Southampton have not touched the ball other than defending and Arsenal can't score.

Kiriama16: They say Giroud ain't a title winning striker. Is that the case Olivier?..

Giroud header. Forster save. The French striker has Jose Fonte all over him but steers the ball towards goal but the Saints keeper has made tougher saves than that already tonight. That isn't troubling him.

Southampton have a chance to break courtesy of a misplaced pass from Gabriel (not his first). Sadio Mane drives to the edge of the home box but his low shot is straight at Petr Cech, who saves.

Another chance for Arsenal. Alexis Sanchez plays a superb pass to find a lovely run to the byline from Mesut Ozil but his pull-back evades everyone in the box. Agonising for Wenger's side.

Arsenal have started this half strongly. Joel Campbell looks to turn and shoot in the box but the ball just gets away from him. 

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Another big save from Fraser Forster! Arsenal pour forward and Olivier Giroud is found by Aaron Ramsey. The French striker's curling shot from just inside the box is destined for the top corner until Forster's outstretched hand tips the effort away.

No goals so far, but no shortage of interest. The game is back under way. 

Chris Burch: Arsene Wenger needs to earn his corn and get these boys going in the second half or kiss goodbye to Arsenal's title hopes!

Arsenal have the majority of possession but have not been able to make it count. And when they have managed to break the away defence down they have found Fraser Forster equal to the task.

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Arsenal have had most of the ball and the two best chances, but Southampton have pressed and for long periods have looked the more threatening. It is intriguingly poised.

Ian Funnell: Another home game that Arsenal are slow to get into. Why can't Wenger get this lot fired up for games?

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Scramble! A cracking Arsenal move down the right gives Joel Campbell space to drive in to, turn and then cross low for Mesut Ozil but the away defence gather in a flash to block and hack the ball clear.

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Jose Fonte shows good strength to prevent Olivier Giroud getting a header on target as the striker dived in to meet an Alexis Sanchez cross. It is a corner, but again the away side do well to clear. Gabriel gathers the ball again but is forced to go backwards.

Southampton win another corner. It goes short to Dusan Tadic but he is unable to get a decent cross in. However, Saints come again and Sadio Mane gets behind the home defence but cannot get a shot on target under pressure from Gabriel. It is another warning for a home side who look completely out of sorts.

Hats off to Southampton. They are neutralising the Arsenal threat superbly. And to sum up the home display, Aaron Ramsey swings a pass from right to left and straight out of play.

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Southampton are getting close. Oriol Romeu beats Petr Cech with a curling, dipping effort from the edge of the box but also beats the crossbar by a yard.

Southampton's first real effort on goal comes from Dusan Tadic, who is found on the edge of the box by Sadio Mane but can only curl a tame effort into the arms of Petr Cech.

Shane Long is a very willing runner for Southampton, but after chasing to collect a long ball forward his cross is poor and goes straight out of play for a goal-kick.

There are echoes of Southampton's last game in this performance. They held Man Utd at bay and then hit on the break late on. Arsenal will be very keen to put any such danger to bed as early as possible. At the moment it is just not happening for them, though.

Mesut Ozil should have scored earlier. He really should have scored here. Olivier Giroud's header in the box falls to him on the edge of the six-yard box but his poked shot is tipped past the post by Fraser Forster. 

In fairness, if he had scored, Southampton would have questioned why the assistant's flag hadn't gone up for offside against the German.