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Live Commentary: Arsenal 6-1 Southampton - as it happened

Sports Mole brings you live text coverage of the Premier League clash between Arsenal and Southampton at the Emirates Stadium.

Good afternoon and welcome to Sports Mole's live text commentary of the Premier League clash between Arsenal and Southampton at the Emirates Stadium.

Southampton are still looking for their first point of the season, and meet an Arsenal team who have not conceded in their first three fixtures.

However, Arsene Wenger will be looking to end a run of three straight draws at home.

The Saints have not won in their last seven trips to face Arsenal, although this is their first time at the Emirates Stadium.


FULL TIMEThe referee brings the game to a close. Arsenal have ran out convincing 6-1 winners.

90 mins + 2SHOT! Oxlade-Chamberlain makes half a yard for himself and fires at goal. There was a slight deflection and it went just wide.

88 minsCazorla dinked a ball through to Vermaelen, who burst into the box and shot at Davis. The Saints keeper did well to save but the rebound fell to Walcott, who made it 6-1 to the Gunners against his former team.

87 minsGOAL! WALCOTT SCORES FOR ARSENAL!

86 minsCHANCE! Ramirez plays in Clyne, who gets beyond Gibbs but cannot get a cross in.

85 minsRamirez takes the ball on the turn and gets a shot away. He dragged it past Szczesny's post. Decent play though.

82 minsCHANCE! Cazorla plays an absolutely unbelievable ball through to Walcott, but he waits to long to deliver a cross and the chance is wasted.

80 minsSHOT! Oxlade-Chamberlain tries one from long range but it was way off target.

77 minsCHANCE! Walcott gets his first touch, but his cross is deflected out for a corner.

75 minsNigel Adkins sends on Jay Rodriguez in place of Rickie Lambert.

74 minsArsenal make a double substitution: Theo Walcott comes on for Gervinho, while Lukas Podolski makes way for Olivier Giroud.

73 minsCLOSE! Oxlade-Chamberlain fires a shot at Davis, who saves well.

71 minsCazorla finds Ramsey just outside the area, and the Welshman does brilliantly to create himself a chance. His shot beats Davis but comes back off the post and Gervinho was on hand to tap in.

70 minsGOAL! GERVINHO SCORES FOR ARSENAL!

68 minsIt's cleared but Arsenal retain possession. Southampton are closing down much better. Szczesny comes under pressure and skews the ball out for a throw.

68 minsRamsey wins a free kick on the left for Arsenal. Cazorla will swing it in with his right foot.

66 minsFrancis Coquelin comes off for Aaron Ramsey.

66 minsSouthampton are pushing higher up the field now. They are not being swamped when they are in possession in Arsenal's final third. Puncheon found half a yard and got a shot away, but it was wild.

64 minsLooks like Aaron Ramsey could be coming on.

63 minsDecent play in midfield by Southampton. They look more of an attacking threat. Much improved in that department.

58 minsArsenal queue up on the edge of Southampton's box, but can't work an opening. Oxlade-Chamberlain sent the ball in twice but no one could get on the end of it.

56 minsCHANCE! Ramirez drags a shot across goal and Lambert slides in at the back post but Gibbs is there to put him off.

54 minsArsenal's midfield has been outstanding today. They've been fortunate with two own goals, but their play has merited the worthy scoreline.

49 minsRamirez has had a few good early touches. He just tried to bend a shot with his left but it was straight at Szczesny.

47 minsJenkinson tries to play the ball through to Gervinho but overhits the pass and the ball goes behind for a goal kick.

47 minsSteven Davis is the man who has made way for the Uruguayan.

46 minsGaston Ramirez has come on for Southampton as Nigel Adkins switches to a 4-4-2 formation.

45 minsThe second half is underway at the Emirates Stadium.

HALF TIMEYou can read our Half-Time Report by clicking here.

HALF TIMEAnd with the amount of chances the hosts are creating, I'd definitely fancy Giroud for a goal if he gets on early enough.

HALF TIMEA goal from Daniel Fox has got the visitors on the scoresheet, but you'd fancy Arsenal to rack up the goals here this afternoon.

HALF TIMEThe referee brings to a close a miserable 45 minutes for Southampton.

45 + 1 minsThat's the first goal Arsenal have conceded this season.

45 minsSzczesny spilled a cross and Fox was on hand to belt the ball into an unguarded net. Muted celebrations from the Saints players.

45 minsGOAL! FOX SCORES FOR SOUTHAMPTON!

42 minsArsenal have played some great stuff this afternoon,but you can't help but feel that Southampton are letting them. Nigel Adkins just needs to get his team in now and give them a bit of a talking to.

40 minsGibbs has been up and down the line like an uppy, downy thing. Incredible work rate from the 22-year-old.

38 minsIt was Gervinho this time, driving the stake through the Southampton defence. He played in Gibbs on the left and his cross was turned in by Clyne.

37 minsGOAL! IT'S 4-0! IT'S ANOTHER OWN GOAL AND IT'S TURNING INTO A LANDSLIDE!

35 minsArteta clipped a lovely ball through to Gervinho, and questions must be asked of the Southampton defence as he galloped through unchecked before slotting past Davis. Southampton really do have a mountain to climb now!

34 minsGOAL! GERVINHO MAKES IT 3-0 TO ARSENAL!

33 minsIt wasn't right in the corner, but it was moving and had plenty of pace on it.

31 minsPodolski stepped up and bent one over the wall with his left peg. It had Davis beaten all ends up. Sweet strike from the German international!

30 minsGOAL! PODOLSKI SCORES FOR ARSENAL!

30 minsFree kick for Arsenal. 30 yards out. Gervinho, Podolski and Cazorla stand over it.

29 minsOxlade-Chamberlain, Podolski and Gervinho looks bright and inventive. Arteta is dominating the midfield. Cazorla is always an option. Arsene Wenger's men are winning the midfield battle, hands down.

27 minsLooks like Nigel Adkins is preparing a change already. Maya Yoshida has come on for Jos Hooiveld. It's not been a great half an hour for the Dutchman.

26 minsGreat play from Podolski. He picks the ball up from deep before going on a winding run, beating three Soton players. He is tackled eventually, but all the Arsenal players seem up for this today.

24 minsSHOT! Gervinho tries his luck from around 25 yards but it sails well wide.

24 minsCHANCE! Gervinho gets his head on Gibbs's cross but it was always going over Davis's crossbar.

23 minsSouthampton are affording Arteta far too much time on the ball. He is able to pick his passes with very little pressure being applied.

20 minsDavis makes a bit of a meal of it with the catch, but the ball is eventually cleared.

19 minsGREAT MOVE! Gibbs, Arteta, Podolski and Gervinho all combine excellently to win Arsenal a corner.

15 minsSouthampton are showing one or two signs of settling in this match now. They are stringing a few passes together. Arsenal do look comfortable, though.

10 minsPodolski wins the ball in midfield before surging at the Southampton defence. He finds Gibbs inside the box and his shot at goal is eventually bundled in by Hooiveld. Unfortunate for the Saints defender, but Arsenal have started the brighter of the two teams. Deserved.

9 minsGOAL! Arsenal take the lead!

8 minsGood work from Oxlade-Chamberlain down the right, but once again he cannot pick out an Arsenal player with his ball into the box.

7 minsArsenal are popping the ball around nicely, under not very much pressure from Southampton.

4 minsSHOT! Arteta spreads play nicely to Oxlade-Chamberlain, who sends the ball into the box but Cazorla cannot direct his shot on target.

3 minsGervinho does well to escape Hooiveld down the right, but his ball into the box cannot find an Arsenal shirt and is cleared.

2 minsWard-Prowse plays a neat one-two and gets the chance to run at the Arsenal defence. He is halted by Mertersacker.

1 minAnd we're off...

2.59pmWe're about to get underway here at the Emirates.

2.57pmI was lucky enough to be covering a lot of Ligue 1 action for this very site last season when he was banging in the goals for Montpellier. He is a smart finisher when he has his head screwed on. I know it's a clich�, but he is a confidence player.

2.53pmDoes anybody want to hear my prediction? You do?! Well, I wouldn't... I haven't won a bet in a looooong time. But, for what it's worth, I'm going for a 3-0 win for Arsenal. I'm also backing Giroud to score.

2.49pmFrancis Coquelin also starts for Arsenal today. It's his seventh Premier League start and first appearance this season.

2.34pmAs I have alluded to in my light analysis, Arsenal have drawn their last three home games, while Southampton have not won away against the Gunners in seven attempts.

2.26pmMeanwhile, Gaston Ramirez is another player that I'm keen to watch. Looks like I'll be waiting though, as he starts from the bench.

2.24pmI hadn't had the chance to really watch Arsenal until their 2-0 win over Liverpool at Anfield. I'm looking forward to watching Santi Cazorla and Lukas Podolski in action today.

2.22pmArsenal subs: Koscielny, Santos, Giroud, Walcott, Ramsey, Arshavin, Mannone


Southampton subs: Gazzaniga, Yoshida, Rodriguez, Ramirez, Richardson, Mayuka, Chaplow

2.20pmDespite losing their first three fixtures, Nigel Adkins will take heart from the performances against Manchester City and Manchester United respectively. They lost 3-2 on each occasion, but had been in the lead. Their other game was a 2-0 defeat at home to Wigan.

2.16pmRickie Lambert starts for the Saints and, with two goals already this season, will carry much of the goal threat.

2.14pmSo there's no place for Olivier Giroud in the starting line up for Arsenal. The Frenchman is still looking for his first goal for the Gunners, but he could join such luminaries as Dennis Bergkamp, Thierry Henry and Robin van Persie if he bags his first today. They all scored their first for the club against Southampton.

SOUTHAMPTONK Davis; Clyne, Fonte, Hooiveld, Fox; Ward-Prowse, Schneiderlin, S Davis, Puncheon; Lambert, Lallana

ARSENALSzczesny; Jenkinson, Mertesacker, Vermaelen, Gibbs; Coquelin, Arteta, Cazorla, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Gervinho; Podolski

2.10pmFirst thing's first, some team news for you...

2.09pmWelcome one and all to Sports Mole's live coverage of the Premier League game between Arsenal and Southampton.
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4Arsenal126422112922
5Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton126422116522
6Tottenham HotspurSpurs1261527131419
7Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest125431513219
8Aston Villa125431919019
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12Manchester UnitedMan Utd124441313016
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15Everton122551017-711
16Leicester CityLeicester122461523-810
17Wolverhampton WanderersWolves122372028-89
18Ipswich TownIpswich121651323-109
19Crystal Palace121561017-78
20Southampton121110924-154


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