English Premier League
Result: Southampton 4-0 Arsenal
Date: 26 December 2015
Venue: St Mary's Stadium
Arsenal missed out on top spot, after they suffered a 4-0 defeat at the hands of Southampton on Saturday evening.
After a slow start to the half, Southampton broke the deadlock in the 19th minute as Per Metersacker's clearance fell to Rhu-endly Martina, who rifled home a superb strike with outside of his foot from 25-yards out.
Arsenal struggled to create chances for most of the first half, but they went close in the 37th minute when Theo Walcott weaved his way into the box, before firing straight at Maarten Stekelenburg.
The visitors went close just a minute later when an un-marked Walcott headed into the side-netting from close range, after getting on the end of Mesut Ozil's corner.
Southampton could have been two goals up just before the halftime break when Sadio Mane played Shane Long through on goal, however the striker's attempted lob sailed over the crossbar with only Petr Cech to beat.
The home side did have the ball in the back of net shortly after the halftime break, however Virgil van Dijk's header was flagged for offside.
However, Southampton were not to be denied in the 55th minute as Mane did well to tee up Long for the easiest of tap-ins from six-yards out.
Arsene Wenger decided to change his approach in the attack and introduced former Saints player, Alex-Oxlade Chamberlain for Joel Campbell.
However, it was Southampton who got the next goal, as Jose Fonte rose well to head home Ryan Bertrand's in-swinging corner for their third goal of the night.
Cech came to Arsenal's rescue in the 74th minute, as he pulled off a fine save to his right to keep out Dusan Tadic's stinging effort from 25-yards out.
Southampton were unlucky not to get a fourth goal in the 88th minute, as Long broke free down the middle, before striking the upright with Cech well beaten.
Long eventually got his second and the Saints' fourth goal in stoppage time, as the striker latched onto a pass from Tadic, before slotting through Cech's legs.
Wenger's charges have now missed the chance to leapfrog Leicester City, who also lost on Boxing Day, while Southampton remain in 12th spot.
