Arsenal managed an incredible late comeback to snatch a 3-3 draw against Southampton On Friday. However, the result was a blow to the Premier League leaders’ title challenge.
Arsenal was trailing 3-1 with only two minutes of normal time left at the Emirates Stadium, but Martin Odegaard’s goal triggered Arsenal’s revival, and Bukayo Saka scored the equalizer in stoppage time.
Despite the thrilling escape, Arsenal’s manager Mikel Arteta finished with his head in his hands because the Gunners will travel to second-placed Manchester City on Wednesday, knowing that Pep Guardiola’s team controls the destiny of the title.
Arsenal is currently five points clear of City, but the champions have two games in hand due to their involvement in the FA Cup semi-finals against Sheffield United on Saturday.
If City wins or draws against Arsenal and then wins their remaining matches, they will be crowned champions, regardless of what the North Londoners do.
After conceding successive two-goal leads in damaging 2-2 draws against West Ham and Liverpool in their previous two matches, Arsenal showed tremendous spirit to reverse the trend.
However, they are under intense pressure as City has won six successive league games. Arteta’s young team is in danger of crumbling unless they can win their do-or-die showdown at the Etihad Stadium.
“A final is when you win a trophy. It’s not a final because there are still six games to go,” Arteta said. “We are down, but they are more willing than anybody to win it. You can see that spirit in the dressing room, but it is clear we have to do better defensively.”
Arsenal’s keeper Aaron Ramsdale had handed Southampton’s Carlos Alcaraz the opening goal after just 27 seconds. Former Gunners forward Theo Walcott doubled the bottom-of-the-table Southampton lead.
Gabriel Martinelli pulled one back for Arsenal before Duje Caleta-Car headed Southampton’s third. Odegaard and Saka ensured Arsenal avoided their first defeat in ten league games.
The presence of Arsenal’s 2004 title-winning trio, Patrick Vieira, Thierry Henry, and Sol Campbell, couldn’t inspire the current squad as the nerves tormenting Arteta’s team were laid bare by Ramsdale’s astonishing blunder inside the first minute.
