21 April 2023 , 21:30
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This time they left themselves with too much to do.
Arsenal at least salvaged a draw from the jaws of defeat but their title challenge is unraveling in front of our eyes. From 3-1 down and heading to a humiliating defeat against the Premier League ’s bottom club, Arsenal suddenly came to life as Martin Odegaard and Bukayo Saka gave the Emirates hope.
They recovered from 2-0 down against Bournemouth last month to win 3-2 but now it appears Arsenal have well and truly lost their nerve and could not pull off another miracle. Instead, Arsenal’s players slumped to the floor at the final whistle, they had blown the chance to go seven points clear before next Wednesday’s trip to Manchester City.
This was an open goal missed against the bottom club. Arsenal look like a team unable to handle the pressure of a title race which suggests they are a long way from being champions. Arsenal are virtually gift wrapping the title to City as, for the third game, they dropped points and yet this time was the most unfathomable on a crazy, ridiculous night.
They pressed the self destruct button with a series of terrible mistakes, left the fight back way too late as they barely created any chances until the last gasp drama. Even at 3-3, Leandro Trossard hit the bar and Reiss Nelson saw a shot defected agonisingly wide in a breathless finish.
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Gabriel Jesus despairs as the result hands title advantage to his old club Man City (Offside via Getty Images)But Arsenal will know they have blown it. Too many players have lost their nerve. From Aaron Ramsdale ’s howler to gift Southampton the lead after 28 seconds to Odegaard’s misplaced passes and Fabio Vieira and Rob Holding not looking up to the task.
It was Ramsdale who set the tone for the whole night after just 28 seconds. Ramsdale’s pass out from the back was horribly misplaced, went straight to Carlos Alcaraz and the Southampton forward looked up, showed great composure and fired past the Arsenal keeper.
What a nightmare start. Then it got even worse for Arsenal in what was certain to be brilliant drama and entertainment for the neutral and pure torture for Mikel Arteta.
Odegaard curled in a second goal for Arsenal to spark the comeback (Getty Images)Odegaard gave away possession with an awful pass in midfield, Southampton broke and then Alcaraz’s superb pass played in Theo Walcott who steered a first time shot past Ramsdale as the visitors were 2-0 up after 13 minutes.
Walcott did not celebrate out of respect for his old club and when he was substituted late on, he even got a standing ovation. Arsenal gave themselves hope after 20 minutes. Saka charged down the right wing, cut the ball back for Gabriel Martinelli and the Arsenal forward volleyed in to reduce the arrears.
Southampton lost Jan Bednarek who was substituted after appearing to suffer concussion after 41 minutes but their defence as Alcaraz helped out at the back by clearing Ben White ’s header off the line.
Bukayo Saka grabbed the equaliser but could not hide his disappointment at the result (Getty Images)It got worse for Arsenal after 66 minutes when Southampton scored again. James Ward-Prowse put over a corner, Armel Bella-Kotchap flicked on, Oleksandr Zinchenko went to sleep at the back post and there was substitute Duje Caleta-Car to head in.
But from a seemingly lost cause, Odegaard gave Arsenal a glimmer of hope when he steered in a shot into the far corner after 88 minutes. That at last gave Arsenal some momentum and the fans provided some much needed energy.
Gunners substitute Nelson saw his shot saved, the rebound fell to Saka and he fired in to level the scores in the 90th minute. Arsenal pressed for an unlikely winner in eight minutes of injury time but it was too little too late as time ran out on Arsenal and possibly their title challenge.