Arsenal recorded a dominant 3-0 home win over an uninspiring Southampton in Saturday's Premier League clash.

Mikel Arteta dropped Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang from his squad on Saturday due to a "disciplinary breach", but Alexandre Lacazette stepped up to open the scoring before Martin Odegaard added a second in the first half.

Gabriel netted a third after the break before Gabriel Martinelli and Bukayo Saka were each denied by the woodwork, with Southampton long since having given up on ending a winless run away at Arsenal that extends to 27 league matches.

Saints are five without a win and just six points above the relegation zone, but victory moved Arsenal within a point of fourth-placed West Ham.

Although Aaron Ramsdale denied Adam Armstrong and James Ward-Prowse as Arsenal started tentatively, they were soon ahead after a lovely passage of play was capped off by Lacazette finding the top-right corner following Saka's cutback.

22 - Bukayo Saka has assisted 22 goals in all competitions for @Arsenal since the start of the 2019-20 campaign, four more than any other player for the club. Flow. pic.twitter.com/6e9zSGCORT OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) December 11, 2021

And it was two just six minutes later as Odegaard reacted fastest to Kieran Tierney's looping header and sneaked in to nod past Willy Caballero – the Norway international's third goal in as many games.

Odegaard looked to double his account after the interval but whipped over, while Nathan Tella forced another smart stop from Ramsdale.

Gabriel, who was earlier denied a goal for offside, then towered above Caballero to head home from Martinelli's corner, before the 20-year-old and Saka were thwarted by either post.

Nathan Redmond and Tella responded by inducing a further two saves from Ramsdale, but it was too little too late as the hosts cruised to a comfortable victory.

What does it mean? Arsenal respond well at home

Arteta's team succumbed to defeat on the road against both Manchester United and Everton but responded emphatically against Southampton and have now won three league home games in a row without conceding for the first time since October 2017

Southampton, who badly need results over the festive period, have still never won a Premier League away game against the Gunners, their 23-match barren run away to one opponent the longest in the competition's history.

Brilliant Bukayo

Saka was once again a shining figure for Arsenal as he repeatedly tormented Kyle Walker-Peters down the right-hand side.

The England international created three chances – including the opener – and has now assisted 22 Arsenal goals in all competitions since the start of the 2019-20 campaign, four more than any other player.

Saints subpar again

Southampton are going through a goalkeeper crisis, with both Alex McCarthy and Fraser Forster injured, and were forced to call upon 40-year-old Caballero, signed to a one-month contract.

However, that does not excuse the fact they have now conceded 50 Premier League away goals in 2021, becoming the first side to do so in the top flight since both Watford and West Brom in 1985.

Key Opta Facts

– Arsenal are unbeaten across their last 27 home matches against Southampton in the top flight, their joint-longest such run against any opponent (also against Manchester City between 1976 and 2012, and an ongoing sequence against Fulham). 
– Odegaard has scored in each of his past three Premier League appearances for Arsenal (seven shots), having scored only twice in his first 25 appearances for the club in the competition (21 shots).
– Lacazette has scored 52 Premier League goals, with 33 of them coming at Emirates Stadium. Of all players with 50 or more goals in the competition, only four players have scored a higher percentage at a specific venue: Gianfranco Zola at Stamford Bridge (69.5 per cent), Cristiano Ronaldo at Old Trafford (67.8 per cent), Didier Drogba at Stamford Bridge (66.3 per cent) and Thierry Henry at Highbury (65.1 per cent).
– At 40 years and 74 days old, Willy Caballero became the oldest player to feature for Southampton in a Premier League match, surpassing Kelvin Davis (39). Caballero is the 17th player to feature in a Premier League game after their 40th birthday, and the first South American to do so. 

What's next?

Arsenal host fellow European challengers West Ham on Wednesday, while Southampton travel to Crystal Palace on the same day.