Arsenal produced a late comeback to salvage a 3-3 draw against Southampton, keeping the Gunners’ title hopes alive.
However, a third Premier League game without victory leaves Manchester City in the driving seat in the title race ahead of the two sides meeting next Wednesday.
Although Arsenal had dropped four points from their last two matches with consecutive draws, they were still heavy favourites against a Southampton team who are fighting for their lives at the foot of the table.
However, in almost unbelievable circumstances, Rubén Sellés’ side took the lead after just 27 seconds when Aaron Ramsdale passed the ball straight to Carlos Alcaraz from a goal-kick, and the Argentinian gladly obliged by curling his shot into the top left-hand corner to stun the Emirates into silence.
If the home fans thought their start to the game couldn’t have got any worse, they were proved wrong when, after 14 minutes, Alcaraz played Theo Walcott in, and the former Arsenal favourite slotted his first-time finish past Ramsdale and into the left corner to put Southampton in dreamland.
Despite their profligate defending, the Gunners were still attacking with some purpose and fluidity, and they got themselves right back into the contest six minutes later when the ever-impressive Bukayo Saka’s cross found Gabriel Martinelli, who fired home a first-time volley for his 15th league goal of the season.
Arsenal had won on three of the four occasions they had trailed at halftime this season, and they knew that a fifth such turnaround was vital in their pursuit of league glory.
However, despite being well on top after the break, the north Londoners failed to take their chances, and they were dealt a killer blow with less than half an hour remaining when the unmarked Duje Caleta-Car headed home at the far post from a corner to make it 3-1, sending the travelling faithful into raptures.
It appeared as if the Gunners had run out of ideas, but Martin Ødegaard’s goal halved the deficit with two minutes remaining and gave them hope before Saka brought the house down when his effort from close range drew them level.
Both teams will, however, feel disappointed in the 3-3 draw.
