English Premier League: Walcott & Giroud on target in Gunners win

The Gunners cemented their Premier League title bid with a 2-1 victory over rivals Manchester City at The Emirates on Monday night.

We head into the Southampton game sitting two points behind leaders Leicester City but with the Foxes facing a tough trip to Anfield, we have a great opportunity to go top with a win at St Mary’s this weekend.

“We lost important points at Arsenal and that was disappointing, but even though it was a six-pointer it was not a decisive game”. First-half goals from Theo Walcott and Olivier Giroud ultimately proved enough for Arsenal to earn all three points after a contest in which City dominated possession and territory but were undone by a combination of their defensive sloppiness, a lack of penetration in attack and the hosts’ ruthlessness on the break. “I am very happy with the character and the personality of the team, they never gave up”, he insisted. You see on the pitch that my teammates help me to play my game. “Today was again an important game and I tried to give my best”.

“If you look back at 2015, we have been consistent overall and have had quite a positive record”.

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger says his players will not be carried away ahead of Saturday’s game against Southampton.

“We must improve because we are conceding too many goals”, Pellegrini, whose side have only kept two clean sheets in their last 12 Premier League games, said.

Arsenal are now two points behind leaders Leicester, and Campbell hopes the good form can continue.

Speaking in his pre-match press conference, Wenger said: “We have nobody coming back”.

But the France global said they have quality in their ranks and many games are left to be played to turn it around. “Confidence is built up very slowly and goes very quickly”.

Chilean Sanchez, who sustained the initial injury against Norwich City at the end of November, was thought to be in with a chance of returning for Monday’s home clash against Manchester City but was not on the bench. “Who will win? No-one knows”.