Petr Cech sends message to Arsenal team-mates after Southampton defeat

Long hit the post while one-on-one with Cech with a minute remaining, but got his second and Saints’ fourth from an identical angle in stoppage time, driving the ball under the goalkeeper after picking up Dusan Tadic’s through ball to round off Arsenal‘s humiliation. “It is not a problem, they are good physical football players and we have to be prepared for Monday, but it makes it a little bit more easier with the [Arsenal] result”.

“But we were unlucky with the decisions of the referee”.

Southampton’s Shane Long scores his first goal of two goals against Arsenal on Saturday. Their first shot on goal went into the top corner from the right-back (Martina), the second goal came after a foul on (Laurent) Koscielny. But well done Southampton and we hope that in the next game we have this type of decisions.

I smile, I don’t smile.

Arsenal does not need to rush to sign Ozil and Sanchez to new contracts, but hopefully by the end of the season they reward their two best players with a raise.

The margin could have been more as the Saints had a goal disqualified after Long clashed with Arsenal keeper Petr Cech to head in a ball.

After the Foxes were downed 1-0 by Liverpool on Boxing Day, Arsenal needed to beat a desperately-out-of-form Southampton to go top.

It looks like we are entering “peak” Arsenal territory.

“We lost too many challenges to win the game. We are disappointed and frustrated, but there’s only one way to respond in 48 hours”.

He denied that his team had been unable to take the pressure of being at the top. Although Bournemouth might give a good fight, I think they will be way too weak to win this match.

Eddie Howe, Bournemouth: “Now we move into a really tough period where we know we are going to have to be even better”. They lost. Not only did they lose, they lost 4-0.

– Sadio Mane has six assists in 18 Premier League appearances this season; twice as many as he had in 30 Premier League last season (3).

Koeman has confirmed defender Cedric Soares (groin) and striker Graziano Pelle (knee) will again be absent, but he will be heartened by Shane Long taking full advantage of a first-team recall in the absence of the latter by netting twice against Arsenal. “He’s a different number nine to Graziano and that’s important”.

Long is likely to keep his place in Monday’s match away to West Ham United.