The Blues finally had a striker score away from home as Jose Mourinho’s substitutions prompted a slew of second-half goals at St Mary’s Stadium on New Year’s Day.

The Blues, who came into the match on the back of wins against Swansea City and Liverpool, flexed their attacking muscle after the break and were simply too good for the Saints, who lost back-to-back home matches for the first time under manager Mauricio Pochettino.

After an entertaining first half, Torres broke the deadlock in the 60th minute, reacting quickly to head into an open net after a deflected Eden Hazard cross beat Southampton goalkeeper Kelvin Davis and hit the post. Chelsea did not have any recognised centre forward score an away league goal in all of 2013 but, on the first day of the new year, the Spaniard broke the drought.

Willian then scored a fine curling strike from the edge of the penalty area with 19 minutes left before fellow substitute Oscar wrapped up the win with a composed left-footed effort.

Ramires returned from suspension for Chelsea in one of six changes, as the likes of Torres, Juan Mata and Andre Schurrle also came in, while Morgan Schneiderlin and Gaston Ramirez were recalled for Southampton.

Torres started brightly, going close twice in the first three minutes, while Schurrle – making his first league start since scoring twice at Stoke City in December – fired just wide.

Southampton defender Dejan Lovren clashed heads with team-mate Jose Fonte, causing play to stop, and, after the former returned, Pochettino’s side grew into the match.

Adam Lallana’s close-range shot was blocked by Ashley Cole and the same defender did well to deny Jay Rodriguez when Ramirez played him through with a lofted ball.

For the second time in 12 minutes, Davis was quick off his line to deny Hazard – he did excellently to keep out Ramires earlier – and Lallana was again denied inside the penalty area by an excellent block, this time from Cesar Azpilicueta.

Ramires was a constant threat and, after a charging run, he forced Davis to tip his strike over the bar, while Hazard hesitated when he should have shot in an attacking move that ended with Schurrle’s effort blocked.

Lovren and Fonte had efforts blocked as Chelsea failed to clear a corner two minutes into the second half, while, at the other end, Oscar was booked for simulation after a minor collision with the Southampton keeper.

An excellent ball from Hazard set up Oscar – recently brought on for Mata – but, after trying to round Davis in the penalty area, he left a trailing leg in and threw himself to ground.

Chelsea were turning the screw and got their reward on the hour-mark thanks to Torres’s quick reaction but Southampton substitute Rickie Lambert fired a warning shot with a close-range header at Petr Cech with 25 minutes left.

Willian linked well with fellow substitute Oscar six minutes later, though, and curled an excellent strike past Davis.

Southampton’s high line was punished again when Hazard’s ball over the top sent Oscar through and he finished with aplomb eight minutes from time.

According to Goal

Late goals from the Dane and the Englishman helped Arsene Wenger’s weakened side overcome a wasteful display and gritty Bluebirds defending to claim three points.

Nicklas Bendtner was Arsenal’s super sub as they returned to the top of the Premier League with a hard-fought win over Cardiff City.

Having watched Manchester City usurp them at the summit with a 3-2 win in the early kick-off against Swansea City, Arsene Wenger’s side looked set to lose their grip on first place as managerless Cardiff frustrated them for long periods.

Watched by prospective new boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer – who flanked controversial owner Vincent Tan in the Emirates Stadium directors’ box – Cardiff held out until Bendtner slammed home in the 89th minute.

And Theo Walcott added gloss to the scoreline with a chipped finish in stoppage time to hand Wenger’s side a one-point advantage at the top.

Lukas Podolski made his second league start of the season, leading the line for an Arsenal side lacking Olivier Giroud (ankle), Aaron Ramsey (thigh), Mesut Ozil (shoulder) and Kieran Gibbs (calf), although Jack Wilshere and Walcott came through late checks on respective ankle and shoulder problems.

Cardiff forward Craig Bellamy missed out due to his chronic knee problem, while experienced right-back Kevin McNaughton made a first Premier League appearance.

Wilshere and Walcott combined in the 13th minute as the latter prodded a searching cross into the side netting after a lacklustre opening.

England midfielder Wilshere was the standout performer in the opening half hour and was unfortunate not to win a penalty when he was bundled over by Gary Medel.

Arsenal goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny made the game’s first save of note as Jordon Mutch stormed forward on the counterattack, before Santi Cazorla beat McNaughton and teed up Walcott to ripple the side netting once more in the 31st minute.

Podolski’s unease in the lone striker role was underlined in first-half stoppage time, as the Germany international was crowded out when well placed in the Cardiff box.

Wenger’s men began the second half with greater intent and former Tottenham centre-back Steven Caulker made a fine last-ditch challenge to thwart Podolski, but it was then Cardiff’s turn to have a penalty appeal waved away by referee Jon Moss when Craig Noone’s cross struck Nacho Monreal’s arm.

Goalkeeper David Marshall was booked for time wasting as Arsenal laid siege to the Cardiff goal and he was grateful to see the ball go behind off his near post after Wilshere had bustled in from the left to blast goalwards in the 64th minute.

Per Mertesacker then hit the same upright as he spurned a second free header in a matter of minutes.

Bendtner, on for the ineffective Podolski, failed to make headed contact with the goal gaping as a frustrating afternoon appeared to be slipping away from Arsenal, but he was on hand to convert after Marshall had saved well from Bacary Sagna’s header.

Walcott then completed the win by lifting the ball over Marshall in stoppage time, leaving Cardiff a point above the relegation zone and Solskjaer with much to ponder.

According to Goal