Danny Welbeck ended a goalless run of 16 Premier League matches when he scored two and assisted the other as Arsenal overcame a spirited Southampton at Emirates Stadium.
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger had made seven changes with Thursday's Europa League quarter-final second leg against CSKA Moscow in mind, and trailed when Shane Long capitalised on a first-half mix-up between keeper Petr Cech and centre-back Shkodran Mustafi.
But the hosts recovered to lead after Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang prodded in his sixth goal since joining from Borussia Dortmund for £56m in January, then Welbeck - who created the leveller with a clever flick - got his first league goal since September.
Southampton then equalised when substitute Charlie Austin turned in Cedric Soares' cross but Welbeck headed Arsenal back in front after both sides missed a string of chances, leaving the visitors deep in relegation trouble.
Mark Hughes' men, who had defender Jack Stephens sent off in added time before Arsenal's Mohamed Elneny was also dismissed, remain 18th in the table and three points from safety.
The south-coast outfit also had a second Long goal ruled out for offside and defender Wesley Hoedt saw his header cleared off the line by Elneny.
Goalkeeper Alex McCarthy had kept the visitors' second-half hopes alive with a string of impressive stops to deny Aubameyang, Granit Xhaka and Alex Iwobi.
Source:BBC