Updated at 6.12pm
TWO RETURNING STARS stole the show as Arsenal thumped beleaguered Aston Villa 5-0 at the Emirates Stadium in the lunchtime kick off to make it three straight Premier League wins for the first time this season.
And a good afternoon for Arsene Wenger and company became a great one when a late Jonjo Shelvey goal gave Swansea a 1-0 win over Champions League chasing Southampton.
Mesut Ozil and Theo Walcott were back in the Arsenal starting line-up after long absences and set up an important victory, which sees the Gunners men climb above Tottenham and into fifth position.
The German World Cup winner, making his first league start in four months, set up Olivier Giroud for Arsenal’s early opener and the roles were reversed after half-time as Ozil made it 2-0.
Walcott added a third and there were further goals for Santi Cazorla, from the penalty spot, and Hector Bellerin as Paul Lambert’s men faded badly.
Villa remain just three points above the relegation zone and are without a win in eight league matches, having failed to score in their last six – a new club record.
In Sunday’s late game, Southampton dominated the first 80 minutes but lacked a killer instinct in front of goal and were made to pay as Shelvey bagged all three points for the visitors with a stunning strike in the 82nd minute.
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Swansea’s win moves them past Stoke into ninth while Southampton remain in fourth place but are now ahead of Arsenal only on goal difference in the race for the final Champions League spot.
Originally published at 4pm.
