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United KingdomThe last Premier League games of the weekend saw Southampton’s hopes of survival dashed, while West Ham won a hard-fought point at reigning champions Chelsea. If you missed what happened in Saturday’s games there is a recap here.
However, if you wish to know what happened in Sunday’s game read on.
Gunners dent Saints survival hopes
Southampton suffered a 3-2 defeat at Arsenal in Sunday’s early Premier League kick-off. The result leaves the Saints in the relegation zone, with the south coast outfit now one of the favourites to suffer relegation.
Mark Hughes side actually took the lead on 17 minutes. Cedric managed enough space down the right to cross into the box and striker Shane Long got in ahead of Shkodran Mustafi at the near post to poke past Petr Cech. The goal was only the forwards second in 48 games for club and country.
The visitors look relatively comfortable until the home side equalised on 28 minutes, as striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang stretched to finish after good play from Danny Welbeck. The home side took the lead on 38 minutes, as Welbeck cut inside from the left flank and saw his effort from 18 yards deflected past Alex McCarthy off defender Maya Yoshida.
The visitors equalised on 73 minutes. Striker Charlie Austin had appeared from the bench just seconds earlier and made an instant impact scoring from close-range after another good Cedric cross.
Welbeck missed a guilt-edge chance before heading the Gunners into the lead on 81 minutes with a back post header from an Alex Iwobi cross. That was the end of the scoring, but not the end of the drama, as in stoppage-time both teams had a player apiece dismissed. Saints defender Jack Stephens received a straight red for a clash with Jack Wilshere. Soon afterwards, the Gunners were reduced to ten men, after pushing Cedric.
The win means that the Gunners head into Thursday night’s Europa League quarter-final second leg against CSKA Moscow on the back of six consecutive wins in all competitions. The visitors have just six games to preserve their Premier League status.
Hammers battle to draw at Stamford Bridge
West Ham boosted their survival hopes slightly with a battling 1-1 draw at London rivals Chelsea. The result just adds to pressure on Blues boss Antonio Conte, whose future in the capital has been questioned of late.
Chelsea took the lead on 36 minutes through an unlikely source. Full-back Cesar Azpilicueta got on the end of a flick-on by Alvaro Morata. The latter saw a goal ruled out for offside in the second period and it got worse for the home side on 73 minutes when the visitors equalised. Marko Arnautovic found Javier Hernandez, whose powerful effort beat Thibaut Courtois in the home goal.
West Ham goalkeeper Joe Hart produced two top saves in the last ten minutes from Marcos Alonso and Olivier Giroud. The Manchester City loanee helped the Hammers hold on to a point that moves them six points clear of the relegation zone.
Meanwhile, Chelsea’s hopes of claiming a Champions League spot look to be gone, as Conte’s side are now ten points behind fourth-place Tottenham.
Can Southampton still survive the drop?
