LONDON – In a dramatic Premier League clash at the Emirates, Arsenal snatched a point from the jaws of defeat against bottom-placed Southampton, finishing 3-3.
A stunning second-half fightback from the Gunners was led by goals from Martin Odegaard and Bukayo Saka after they went down 3-1 to the struggling Saints.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta expressed his disappointment with the team’s defensive performance, saying, “It is clear we have to do better defensively.”
But he praised the character of his young team, saying, “This young team reacts in a way that is incredible when it is against the odds.”
Arsenal’s hopes of staying in the Premier League title race now hang by a slender thread as they are now 10 points behind league leaders Manchester City.
City’s six successive league wins have put immense pressure on Arteta’s young team, and they will face a do-or-die showdown at the Etihad Stadium next week.
The game started disastrously for the Gunners, with Aaron Ramsdale handing Southampton’s Carlos Alcaraz the opening goal after just 27 seconds.
In a painful twist, it was former Gunners forward Theo Walcott who doubled Southampton’s lead, capitalising on another Arsenal defensive error.
Gabriel Martinelli gave Arsenal hope with a fine volley past Gavin Bazunu from 10 yards. But Duje Caleta-Car’s header from a James Ward-Prowse corner looked to have sealed the game for Southampton.
However, Odegaard’s superb curler from the edge of the area in the 88th minute gave the Gunners a lifeline.
Pouring forward in waves, Arsenal snatched the equaliser in the 90th minute with a clinical finish from Saka after Reiss Nelson’s shot was pushed out by Bazunu.
The league leaders could have stolen the victory when Leandro Trossard fired against the bar.
Arsenal bottling title drive?
Arteta praised his players’ reaction to the early setbacks, saying, “If you concede three like we did in a sloppy way, it is very difficult to win, but the way we reacted, I love my players more than ever.”
Arsenal’s title hopefuls had the support of the last Gunners group to lift the trophy in 2004 as Patrick Vieira, Thierry Henry, and Sol Campbell joined the crowd at the Emirates.
But even the presence of that iconic trio couldn’t inspire them as the nerves tormenting Arteta’s team were laid bare by Ramsdale’s astonishing blunder inside the first minute.
Despite the disappointment of not securing all three points, Arsenal fans can take heart from the team’s never-say-die attitude.
With six games remaining in the season, there is still time for the Gunners to mount a late charge for the title.
