London, United Kingdom
Arsenal staged an unbelievable late fightback to rescue a 3-3 draw towards Southampton, however the Premier League leaders had been nonetheless left pissed off by a harmful consequence that put their title problem in jeopardy on Friday.
Mikel Arteta’s facet escaped with some extent regardless of trailing 3-1 with simply two minutes of regular time left on the Emirates Stadium.
Martin Odegaard’s purpose sparked Arsenal’s revival and Bukayo Saka snatched the equaliser in stoppage-time.
However, regardless of the thrilling escape, Arteta completed together with his head in arms as a result of the Gunners will journey to second positioned Manchester Metropolis on Wednesday realizing it’s Pep Guardiola’s group who management the future of the title.
Arsenal are 5 factors away from Metropolis, however the champions have two video games in hand because of their involvement within the FA Cup semi-finals towards Sheffield United on Saturday.
If Metropolis win or draw towards Arsenal after which win their remaining matches, they are going to be topped champions it doesn’t matter what the north Londoners do.
After blowing successive two-goal leads in damaging 2-2 attracts towards West Ham and Liverpool of their earlier two matches, Arsenal a minimum of confirmed great spirit to reverse the pattern.
Arsenal keeper Aaron Ramsdale had handed Southampton’s Carlos Alcaraz the opening purpose after simply 27 seconds.
In a painful twist for Arsenal followers, it was former Gunners ahead Theo Walcott who doubled backside of the desk Southampton’s lead.
Gabriel Martinelli pulled one again for Arsenal earlier than Duje Caleta-Automobile’s headed Southampton’s third.
Odegaard and Saka ensured Arsenal prevented a primary defeat in 10 league video games.
However Metropolis’s six successive league wins put Arsenal beneath intense stress and Arteta’s younger group are at risk of crumbling except they will win their do-or-die showdown on the Etihad Stadium.
Arsenal’s title hopefuls had the help of the final Gunners group to elevate the trophy in 2004 as Patrick Vieira, Thierry Henry and Sol Campbell joined the gang on the Emirates.
However even the presence of that iconic trio could not encourage them because the nerves tormenting Arteta’s group had been laid naked by Ramsdale’s astonishing blunder inside the primary minute.
Taking possession inside his personal space, Ramsdale performed a suicidal cross in the direction of Thomas Partey that utterly missed the midfielder on the sting of the realm.
Alcaraz gleefully accepted the reward as he smashed his shot previous the uncovered Ramsdale to scale back the Emirates to surprised silence.
The anxiousness pulsing by way of Arsenal, each on the pitch and within the stands, was palpable and Southampton struck once more after one other calamitous error from the hosts within the 14th minute.
Partey gave the ball away to Alcaraz and his chic cross caught Gabriel Magalhaes out of place, permitting Walcott to surge into the realm and slot previous Ramsdale with unerring precision.
Walcott’s resolution to not rejoice out of respect for his previous membership hardly softened the blow.
Oleksandr Zinchenko tried to rally Arsenal’s shell-shocked stars as he referred to as them right into a huddle instantly after the purpose.
Arsenal decreased the deficit within the twentieth minute when Saka powered down the proper flank and pulled his cross again in the direction of Martinelli, who caressed a superb volley previous Gavin Bazunu from 10 yards.
However Caleta-Automobile regarded to have delivered the hammer blow within the 66th minute.
James Ward-Prowse’s nook curled in the direction of the far publish and Caleta-Automobile rose highest to go dwelling from close-range.
To their immense credit score, Arsenal refused to give up and Odegaard beat Bazunu with an outstanding roller from the sting of the realm within the 88th minute.
Pouring ahead in waves, Arsenal scented a exceptional escape and Saka poached the equaliser within the ninetieth minute with a scientific end after Reiss Nelson’s shot was pushed out by Bazunu.
Arsenal might have stolen the victory when Leandro Trossard fired towards the bar whereas Nelson’s deflected strike whistled agonisingly vast moments later to depart the Gunners’ title hopes hanging by a slender thread.
