Alexis Sanchez produced a moment of brilliance on his 100th Premier League appearance as Arsenal saw off Southampton 2-0 to maintain their late top-four push.
The Chilean had toiled with his team-mates at St Mary's but he elevated a low-key Gunners display just before the hour mark, his quick feet and cool finish breaking the deadlock before substitute Olivier Giroud (82) sealed a win to keep Champions League qualification in sight.
Defeat was tough on a Saints side that had crafted the better openings and forced Petr Cech into fine first-half saves from Manolo Gabbiadini and Nathan Redmond.
Injury before the break to Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain was a sour note but Arsene Wenger's men, given renewed hope by victory against Manchester United at the weekend, ended a 14-year barren league run on the south coast at the most crucial of times to climb to fifth in the table.
They still require their rivals to slip up if they are to qualify for the Champions League for a 20th successive season but have now closed in to within three points of Manchester City and four of Liverpool, with a game in hand on the Reds.
Southampton had not mustered a shot on target during Sunday's goalless draw with Liverpool but here they threatened from kick-off, Nathan Redmond dangerous first with a cross and then a cut-back, which Steven Davis ballooned behind.
Arsenal - with Shkodran Mustafi in for Laurent Koscielny - eased into the contest, waiting patiently for a break, but though Oxlade-Chamberlain gave his marker the slip with a drop of the shoulder, Ramsey's first-time swipe at the square ball flew wide.
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