alexis sanchez
Alexis Sanchez and Olivier Giroud celebrate as Arsenal take maximum points against Stoke.
  • Arsenal 3-0 Stoke FT
  • Manchester United 0-1 Southampton FT

6:52pm: And that's a wrap! Southampton take maximum points at Old Trafford and go into third place while United's top four position looks very uncertain right now with Arsenal clipping at their heels. Thanks for joining us, check out ibtimes.co.uk for all he latest football news!

6:49pm: Slight delay in the match as Dusan Tadic receives treatment, but he's ok and there'll surely be Fergie time now thanks to that...

6:47pm: Five minutes of stoppage time.

6:44pm: Still nothing in the way of a shot on target for United and it looks like their unbeaten run of more than 10 games is about to fall by the wayside.

6:38pm: Into the last 10 minutes now. Can United peel one back? Southampton still have just one shot on target - can they double their lead?

6:36pm: Juan Mata has a shot and it's so close, but goes wide. The game has certainly gone up a notch in the entertainment stakes.

6:34pm: Yellow cards are starting to come out as Graziano Pelle and Michael Carrick are booked in a matter of minutes.

6:33pm: Still no shots on target for United who look a shell of their best selves at the moment.

6:29pm: And now Fellaini is on for Di Maria, who has also had a disappointing day today.

6:27pm: GOAL! Finally, a shot on target! Dusan Tadic puts Southampton ahead and United will need to wake up now if they want to take anything from this match. After Pelle hit the post Tadic collected the rebound and put the ball in the net from 15 yards out. He's then booked after taking off his shirt.

6:23pm: Now Luke Shaw is off for Tyler Blackett. 65 minutes gone.

6:19pm: Herrera is on for Van Persie who has done little today. Meanwhile Dusan Tadic is on for Southampton in place of Eljero Elia.

6:15pm: With the final half hour approaching, will either side change things up? It would surely serve Louis Van Gaal to put Wayne Rooney up front and bring Angel Di Maria into the midfield...

6:12pm: Still nothing on target, both defences keeping each other well and truly in check.

6:08pm: Pelle has a big shot but Luke Shaw blocks it at just the right time. Some great defensive work from the United man in a side that often ends up relying on David De Gea.

6:06pm: Southampton have started strong once more, but aren't making anything dangerous out of their attacks thus far.

6:03pm: And we're back - it can only get better from here!

5:47pm: And that's a wrap on the first half. Bring on the second and some entertainment please!

5:46pm: Into injury time now and while United are threatening it's little more than a wimper.

4:44pm: Van Persie has a shot but it's blocked, with the assist going to Wayne Rooney. United are slowly starting to dominate but it might not be with enough time.

4:40pm: United have a host of players getting back into form and it's showing at the moment as Angel Di Maria has a terrible shot on goal. The side need three points if they want their top four place to continue looking assured, but so far they haven't shown any quality up front today.

4:36pm: Ryan Bertrand receives a yellow card for a tackle on Antonio Valencia... that's about the only interesting thing that's happened so far.

4:31pm: Just give us something in front of a net, any net, come on!! Ball is still being passed around, and lost, in midfield. Southampton had a corner and Jose Fonte had a go with a header but David De Gea has hardly been tested this afternoon.

4:25pm: Robin van Persie, who has seven goals in seven games against Southampton to date, has a shot but it's offside.

4:23pm: Still no shots on target for either side. Here's a stat for you from OptaJoe:

19 - Southampton have lost 16 and drawn three of their last 19 away league games at Old Trafford against Manchester United. Bedeviled.

4:20pm: After some good work by Toby Alderweireld he looks injured and comes off with Florin Gardos on in his place.

4:16pm: United might be making more accurate passes right now but there has been just one shot on goal for each side and none on target as yet.

4:11pm: United's possession is getting more in control - currently they have 65% of the ball but haven't had a real chance on goal as yet.

4:06pm: Southampton continue to look dangerous but Angel Di Maria is settling into the attacking role alongside Van Persie well - he has an early shot but it misses to the left.

4:03pm: Southampton are on the front foot already and have a chance through Nathaniel Clyne but it misses to the left.

4:00pm: And we're off!

3:55pm: It's minutes until kick-off and Southampton are certainly pinching themselves at being in this position - fighting for a Champions League place and looking a good chance against Manchester United today. But with Louis Van Gaal having a host of injury returns it will be interesting to see if the hosts are back to their best, which has been very good this season.

3:45pm: It's not great news for Matheiu Debuchy who Arsene Wenger confirmed has dislocated his shoulder. The manager said:

He has to see a specialist then we see where we go from there. A dislocated shoulder can take a while.

3:24pm: And that's a wrap - Arsenal take a very convincing win over a hapless Stoke with Alexis Sanchez looking the goods as he grabs a brace. Arsene Wenger will be very pleased with that result - now over to Old Trafford where kick-off is fast approaching!

3:23pm: Two minutes of extra time.

3:22pm: This result means that Arsenal will move to fifth place in the table and depending on the result from Manchester United and Southampton they could be equal on points with fourth. Meanwhile Stoke go down to 11th in the table but the side still boast a seven point buffer between themselves and the drop.

3:15pm: Going into the final five minutes and it's all clockwork now for Arsenal, with Ozil making a positive impact. The game time will certainly be important for the midfielder as he looks to get back into the starting line-up next week.

3:10pm: Geoff Cameron thinks he's scored but it's ruled offside and the score remains 3-0.

3:08pm: The game looks all but over but no one has told Sanchez this by the looks of it as he tries to make it four goals with a thundering shot - it's too high though. Less than 15 minutes to go.

3:04pm: And it looks like Ozil is back for the Arsenal after three months out! He comes on in place of Olivier Giroud. Stephen Ireland also replaces Bojan for Stoke.

3:01pm: Team news from Old Trafford and Daley Blind is back in action for United - team line-ups below:

Man United XI: De Gea; Valencia, Jones, Smalling, Shaw; Blind, Carrick; Rooney, Mata, Di Maria; van Persie.

Southampton XI: Forster; Clyne, Fonte, Alderweireld, Bertrand; Wanyama, Schneiderlin, Davis, Ward-Prowse, Elia; Pellè

2:59pm: Cazorla hits the crossbar as Arsenal come painstakingly close to making the scoreline 4-0. Meanwhile Theo Walcott comes on for Chamberlain, who will be frustrated not to have a goal on the board after all his efforts today.

2:57pm: Peter Crouch is booked after a tackle on Francis Coquelin.

2:56pm: Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain has a shot blocked as Arsenal continue to keep the ball in the attacking end. They've had 54% of possession so far but it looks like a lot more - perhaps because they're making it count.

2:52pm: Geoff Cameron is booked for fouling Alexis Sanchez as Stoke become more frustrated.

2:50pm: The love-in is continuing for Alexis Sanchez at the moment and OptaJoe have offered this stat on the Gunners star:

18 - Alexis Sanchez has been involved in more Premier League goals than any other player this season. Crucial.

2:49pm: Just one chance on target for Stoke in this game and Arsenal look to have this one well and truly tied up.

2:44pm: Philipp Wollscheid receives a yellow card for pulling Olivier Giroud's shirt.

2:39pm: GOAL! Alexis Sanchez makes it two for him and three for Arsenal, who are now up 3-0 against Stoke. Sanchez's first goal was brilliant and this one is equally clinical as he scores from a free kick - though it is helped a little with a deflection from the Stoke wall.

2:36pm: And we're back - Arsenal were dominant in the first half, can Stoke turn this one around? Stay tuned for all the action in the second half!

2:21pm: And that's a wrap on the first half.

2:19pm: Chamberlain is begging for a goal and has another attempt as he finds space at the edge of the box but it's over the bar.

2:16pm: Five minutes of added time and Arsenal are cruising right now - will the urgency of half time click Stoke into action?

2:11pm: Monreal is back on and Arsenal are back on the attacking front. Stoke still have no shots on target with 2 chances compared to the Gunners' 7.

2:08pm: Nacho Monreal receives treatment after a clash with Crouch. It's been a good day goal wise for Arsenal but not great news on the injury front thus far...

2:02pm: GOAL! Alexis Sanchez doubles Arsenal's lead over Stoke and that goal was coming with the side being utterly dominant. Sanchez doesn't even need to get past Ryan Shawcross as he slots the ball into the net - Begovic never saw that coming.

1:56pm: No shots on goal as yet for Stoke but the side mount an attack putting Ospina to work as Pieters' cross is deflected towards the near post.

1:51pm: Stoke's only glimmer of hope at the moment is Begovic who makes another good save from Giroud.

1:48pm: Debuchy's off on a stretcher and while Chamberlain is continuing to make life hard for Stoke's defenders Jonathan Walters and Peter Crouch combine to put together the visitors' first real chance at an attack, but it's ruled offside.

1:45pm: Hector Bellerin comes on for Debuchy and it looks like the treatment will continue for the Gunners man. Hopefully it's nothing serious.

1:42pm: Mathieu Debuchy looks hurt as he's off the pitch for treatment - Gunners playing with 10 men for the moment.

1:37pm: Arsenal have made a brilliant start at the Emirates today and the goal was a sign of just how easy Stoke have been making it for the side so far. Meanwhile Chamberlain has a chance but it's ruled offside.

1:35pm: GOAL! Laurent Koscielny is on target with his head and Arsenal go up 1-0 against Stoke within five minutes. After a corner Koscielny gets on the right end of a cross from Alexis Sanchez. Tough to take for Begovic who had just saved a shot from Tomas Rosicky.

1:32pm: Early chance for Arsenal through Alexis Sanchez but it's Begovic to the rescue as the keeper tips the ball around the post. A brilliant save and positive start for the Gunners.

1:30pm: And we're off!

1:25pm: Minutes until kick off, a little stat from OptaJoe:

7 - Mark Hughes has never won a Premier League game away at Arsenal as an opposition coach, losing all seven visits. Outgunned.

1:20pm: The biggest team news for Arsenal is Szczesny's omission, which is reportedly due to the keeper being caught on camera smoking. Meanwhile Ozil and Ramsey take to the bench for the side.

1:11pm: Arsenal will certainly be looking to get back to winning ways this year after losing to Southampton 2-0 on the first day of 2015. Their defence has left a lot to be desired in recent times and Stoke will be a tough match-up for them with the side having won two of their last three matches and holding Manchester United to a draw last week.

1:05pm: The team line-ups for Arsenal v Stoke are as follows:

Arsenal XI: Ospina, Debuchy, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Monreal, Coquelin, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Rosicky, Cazorla, Alexis, Giroud. Subs: Szczesny, Bellerin, Flamini, Ramsey, Ozil, Campbell, Walcott

Stoke XI: Begovic, Cameron, Wollscheid, Shawcross, Pieters, Nzonzi, Whelan, Arnautovic, Bojan, Walters, Crouch. Subs: Butland, Muniesa, Ireland, Wilson, Moses, Adam, Sidwell.

1:00pm: Good afternoon and welcome to IBTimes UK's Sunday afternoon Premier League coverage! Arsenal take on Stoke firstly with the Gunners able to seal a place in the top four with a win, while Manchester United and Southampton face one another later on as both sides aim to keep their own spots in Champions League contention.