ARSENAL have put together a three game winning streak for the first time in 2018 after edging Southampton 3-2 on Sunday.

The Gunners had to come from behind after Shane Long pounced on the indecision of Shkodran Mustafi to give the visitors an early lead in front of an all too typically sparse home crowd for a Sunday lunchtime kick off. 

The German’s lack of compunction that followed was evident as he gesticulated towards his No 1, but he may as well have been looking in the mirror and Cech rightly pointed the finger back at the centre half.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang soon equalised with his sixth Arsenal goal. It was the first indication to the indifferent crowd that this was indeed an Arsenal side they were watching. Alex Iwobi found Danny Welbeck who played in Aubameyang to toe poke it past Alex McCarthy.

Soon after, Iwobi put Welbeck through down the left. The striker cut inside and shot with his right foot. The ball was helped in by a decisive deflection off Maya Yoshida and looped over McCarthy.

The Gunners created far more chances in the second half, peppering the visitors’ goal. Firstly Iwobi slotted in Aubameyang who forced a solid arm from McCarthy before Granit Xhaka tested the Englishman from long range when Saints were unable to clear.

Saints nearly equalised when James Ward-Prowse’s corner found Wesley Hoedt who’s glancing header needed a goal-line clearance by Mohamed Elneny.

Then they did get back into the game with an equaliser that would have boosted hopes of Premier League survival. Cedric was allowed to dribble into the Arsenal box aided by some nimble footwork and squared it for Charlie Austin to slot home moments after coming on.

Arsenal then had a golden chance of scoring a winner. Iwobi, creating again, played an inviting ball to the back post which substitute Jack Wilshere did well to keep in play, let alone direct it back across goal towards Welbeck, but the striker was unable to hit the target from two yards out, much to the frustration of the home crowd.

Minutes later, a near identical play did lead to a winning goal. Iwobi crossed to the back post where Wilshere was lurking but with Welbeck also in range, the striker didn’t wait for Wilshere’s centre this time, instead making it his own and heading it straight into the goal.

There was still time for late dramas. Jack Stephens and Mohamed Elneny saw straight red cards after an incident involving Wilshere, but it was mostly just handbags.

The result will do little for either side in their respective ends of the table but Southampton will feel this was a big chance missed in their battle for survival.