Arsenal’s Premier League title challenge is faltering after they dropped more points in a thrilling 3-3 draw with bottom-placed Southampton at the Emirates Stadium. The Gunners were twice two goals ahead, but Duje Caleta-Car’s header midway through the second half put the Saints 3-1 up and had Arsenal fans heading for the exit. However, Martin Odegaard and Bukayo Saka scored late on to rescue a point for the Gunners, who are now five points clear of defending champions Manchester City, who have two games in hand and a superior goal difference.
The match began in dramatic fashion as Southampton took the lead inside 30 seconds when Carlos Alcaraz intercepted Aaron Ramsdale’s pass and rifled a shot past the former Sheffield United goalkeeper. Theo Walcott, who spent over a decade at Arsenal, then doubled the away side’s lead on 14 minutes following a through ball from Alcaraz. The Gunners responded quickly and Gabriel Martinelli pulled one back six minutes later after being found by Saka’s cross.
Ramsdale was forced to make a double-save to deny Mohamed Elyounoussi’s header and a shot from Alcaraz before the interval, while Gabriel Jesus was denied by Saints goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu and Ben White’s looping header was cleared off the line by Alcaraz. The tactical change at half-time did not immediately reap rewards for Southampton, but Caleta-Car’s header put them 3-1 up and it looked like Arsenal’s title challenge was imploding.
However, Odegaard curled in a long-range effort on 88 minutes to revitalise a quiet Emirates and Saka was in the right place at the right time after Bazunu superbly kept out Reiss Nelson’s shot to level the scores. Leandro Trossard struck the bar before a Reiss Nelson shot deflected just wide of the post as Arsenal kept pressing for a dramatic winner deep into injury-time. Ultimately, both teams had to settle for a point and reflect on an entertaining but ultimately disappointing result.