Arsenal Drop Another Two Points In EPL Title Race As Dramatic Comeback Against Southampton Falls Short
Arsenal 3-3 Southampton
Arsenal failed to win for the third Premier League game in a row as they were held at home by Southampton in a Friday night epic.
Despite dropping points in recent away games at Liverpool and West Ham, Arsenal started Friday's game as overwhelming favorites to beat Southampton, who were bottom of the table.
But goals from Carlos Alcaraz, Theo Walcott and Duje Caleta-Car saw the Saints stun the Emirates Stadium by moving into a 3-1 lead.
Gabriel Martinelli, Martin Odegaard and Bukayo Saka found the net for Arsenal but it was not enough as the result left Manchester City in control of the title race.
Arsenal are still five points above second-placed City but Pep Guardiola's team have played two matches fewer.
City's next EPL fixture is against Arsenal at the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday night.
Southampton defender Duje Caleta-Car pictured (left) scoring a goal during his team's away draw at Arsenal on Friday
IMAGO/Sportimage/David Klein
Arsenal fell behind within 30 seconds of kick-off on Friday following an error by keeper Aaron Ramdale.
Ramsdale's under-hit pass for Oleksandr Zinchenko was intercepted by Alcaraz, who produced a clean finish from just outside of the penalty area.
This was not the earliest goal conceded by the Gunners at home this season. Bournemouth scored at the Emirates Stadium after just nine seconds in March.
Arsenal went on to beat Bournemouth 3-2 in that game but Southampton proved a tougher nut to crack.
Theo Walcott put Southampton 2-0 up in the 14th minute with a tidy finish following an Alcaraz assist.
Walcott, who netted 108 goals in 397 appearances for the Gunners between 2006 and 2018, refused to celebrate after scoring against his former club.
An Arsenal fightback appeared to be on the cards when Martinelli volleyed home from a Saka cross six minutes later.
But Southampton withstood Arsenal's attacking onslaught before landing a sucker punch from a corner kick midway through the second half.
Arsenal fans were leaving the stadium in their thousands but many decided to stay a little longer after Odegaard rifled a brilliant shot into the net from 20 yards in the 88th minute.
Nobody was going home moments later after Saka slammed home a loose ball to tie the game in the first of eight minutes of added time.
Leandro Trossard came close to completing another sensational Arsenal turnaround when his long-range effort hit the crossbar.
