Arsenal 3-3 Southampton (Martinelli 20′, Odegaard 88′, Saka 90′ | Alcaraz 1′, Walcott 14′, Caleta-Car 66′)
EMIRATES STADIUM — Well that was something, but this draw will still feel like a defeat for Arsenal. First played 20th in the Premier League on Friday night, and Southampton, embattled, bottom of the table, winless-in-six Southampton, came away with a hard-earned point.
It is difficult enough to breathe at high altitude let alone when the air of inevitability makes it all the more stifling. It’s Manchester City’s to lose, so goes the growing belief (see also: the Champions League, the FA Cup, global domination), and that feeling is now stronger after Arsenal relinquished their grasp on this title race.
Southampton deserve huge credit, raising their own hopes that relegation can be avoided, but this night was more about Arsenal dropping points, with the manner of the draw telling. This is what happens to prey when City are the hunters.
It’s not over, far from it, but a five-point lead at the top masks over the two games in hand City have, meaning Wednesday’s title showdown at the Etihad has gone from must-not-lose to must-win for Arsenal. That, is a daunting prospect.
Arteta had demanded an “electric” atmosphere inside the Emirates, and his supporters duly obliged, knowing top against bottom was no formality. And so it proved, with Arsenal starting the game as good as a goal down when conceding after just 27 seconds, Aaron Ramsdale doing his best David de Gea impersonation when misplacing a short pass before failing to keep out Carlos Alcaraz’s strike.
The goal may have shaken the Emirates but it did not silence the home fans, who knew they were needed now more than ever, and were grateful to see 89 minutes still remaining on the clock.
It was the second time this season Arsenal had conceded inside a minute at home. Last time it was nine seconds, last time it was 3-2, a last-gasp win against Bournemouth thanks to Reiss Nelson’s 97th-minute winner.
Arsenal had even gone two goals down on that occasion, and in this most unwanted of copy and pastes, they trailed Southampton 2-0 after just 14 minutes. This time, Martin Odegaard’s pass was intercepted, with Alcaraz’s pinpoint through ball finding Theo Walcott, who looked a little sheepish when sliding it past Ramsdale to score against his former club.
Then came the huddle, a scene almost unthinkable before kick-off, with Oleksandr Zinchenko the orchestrator when gathering Arsenal’s players within the centre circle and giving a team talk of his own. And whatever was said, initially it seemed to do the trick.
Just six minutes later, Arsenal were back in it thanks to Bukayo Saka’s drive to the byline then cross for Gabriel Martinelli, who volleyed in to restore belief.
Premier League table
By the half-hour mark, Southampton’s time-wasting had irked Arsenal for roughly 29 minutes, but the Saints were after all on a mission of their own, chasing what had seemed an unlikely three points that would lift them up to 19th and just a point off 17th.
No surprise, then, when seven minutes were added on, and after Gabriel Jesus’ effort was saved in injury time, from the resulting corner Ben White saw his header cleared off the line.
It was as though 90 minutes, even 180, had been squeezed into a half. Fitbits around the Emirates were tracking rigorous workouts, refreshments were needed, though there was no real need for caffeine.
The frenzy continued after the break. Arsenal pushed and probed, while their fans – and Arteta for that matter – were apoplectic every time Southampton goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu ran down the clock.
Then came seemingly the killer blow. From a corner Duje Caleta-Car headed in Southampton’s third, and as their fans did the “Poznan”, jumping up and down with their backs to the pitch, Arsenal fans were questioning how much more of this they could face themselves.
But it wasn’t over. Odegaard’s 88th-minute goal gave Arsenal hope, and two minutes later Saka’s strike made it 3-3.
Some draw, but now having taken just three points from their last three games, the all-too predictable “bottlejob” tag will echo from the social media accounts of rival fans.
A tad harsh, given Arsenal have exceeded expectations, but the timing of this winless run will sting, particularly given City’s tendency to fire down the final straight.
There’s always Wednesday, and a chance to beat City away, but you cannot help but feel the momentum is well and truly in Manchester. Bar another swing, this race is only going one way.
from Football - inews.co.uk https://ift.tt/bX3JKrh
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