Arsenal missed the chance to restore a four-point lead at the top of the Premier League as Southampton came from behind to draw 1-1 at St Mary’s.
After Manchester City’s 3-1 win over Brighton on Saturday, Arsenal knew only a win would be enough to regain a healthy advantage at the top of the table and they made the perfect start when Granit Xhaka’s fine right-footed strike from a Ben White cross put them ahead in the 11th minute.
But despite their dominance in the first half, Arsenal’s lead remained a slender one and they were made to pay when Stuart Armstrong’s composed finish, following good work from Mohamed Elyounoussi, pulled Southampton level after the break (65).
The result sees the Gunners move two points clear at the top but prevented their winning run from extending to nine games in all competitions.
“Complaints? No, no complaints,” Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta said.
“This is football and I think we were really, really good in the first half and controlled totally the game and created big chances that we didn’t put away.
“In the Premier League, unfortunately, when you don’t do that when you are on top of the game you can pay the price.”
As for Southampton, their mini-revival continues. They are now unbeaten in three matches but stay 15th, three points above the relegation zone.
How Saints battled back to frustrate Gunners
Arsenal’s last visit to St Mary’s – a 1-0 loss – was the third of three consecutive damaging defeats in April which ultimately cost them Champions League qualification.
The Gunners travelled to the south coast on this occasion as the Premier League’s early pacesetters and with progression from the Europa League group stage already assured.
Arteta’s men wasted little time in asserting their authority on the contest. Xhaka had already tested Southampton goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu during a dominant opening spell when he emphatically thumped a right-footed half-volley into the roof of the net from level with the penalty spot after the rampaging White played a one-two with Bukayo Saka and crossed from the right.
Southampton had ended a five-game winless run with a nervy 1-0 midweek victory at neighbours Bournemouth. Yet, with Che Adams – their match-winner at the Vitality Stadium – beginning on the bench due to a hamstring concern, they initially lacked an attacking threat.
Gabriel Jesus almost doubled Arsenal’s lead just before the break but his volley, following neat interplay with captain Martin Odegaard, was pushed away by Bazunu.
The Brazilian forward had another golden opportunity to give the Gunners breathing space on the hour mark but he dithered and was denied by a last-ditch tackle from Elyounoussi after breaking through on goal.
Elyounoussi then made another telling impact on the game as Saints levelled with their first meaningful attempt.
The Norway winger burst forward before delivering a perfectly-weighted through ball for recalled Scotland international Armstrong to calmly slip the ball beyond Aaron Ramsdale and into the bottom left corner for his first club goal since March.
Arsenal thought they had claimed a 79th-minute winner through Odegaard but the ball was adjudged to have gone out of play before it was cut back by substitute Kieran Tierney.
Aside from the brief joy of Odegaard’s disallowed effort, the Gunners rarely threatened to regain the lead as their title aspirations suffered a setback.
Southampton, meanwhile, earned a hard-fought point to further ease the pressure on under-fire boss Ralph Hasenhuttl.
Hasenhuttl praises Saints’ mentality
Southampton manager Ralph Hasenhuttl told Sky Sports: “We showed in the second half how competitive we are. In the first half, we were lucky to be only one goal down, but as long as you are only one goal down you are still in the game. Then you see what happens when you believe and put a lot of effort and passion in.
“It was amazing to watch the turnaround and mentality of the lads today because, in the end, we had them on the ropes and we could have won it.
“We didn’t give a lot of chances away in the second half and had our chances in some good counter-attacks, and the goal was brilliant, a brilliant counter-attack.
“This is what we tried. We still tried with the ball to be brave in some moments. It didn’t always work – it never always works against such top teams – but we tried it all the time and this was good to see, to be honest.”
Asked about having to reshuffle his side due to recent injuries, he added: “We never speak about players we are missing. We never complain about injuries.
“We always trust the players on the pitch. We trust every player in our squad. When they are on the pitch they know what to do and this is the most important thing.”
Southampton goalscorer Stuart Armstrong said: “It was always going to be a hard game against good opposition. Not the perfect start for us and still, we had to defend and wait for counter-attacks, that was the rhythm of the game.
“But to get a point against a great team is obviously amazing for us.”
Arteta: We made too many mistakes
Asked if he was frustrated with a draw on the south coast, Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta told Sky Sports: “Yes, I am, especially with the big chances we created.
“The way we started and played in the first half, the game should have been in a different position, but credit to Southampton as well.
“We weren’t as clean and consistent on the ball in the second half. We started to concede a lot of long throws and set-plays, which disrupted our game. We gave too many balls away and made too many unforced errors.
“Despite that, I think we created the two biggest chances in the second half, but unfortunately it wasn’t enough to win the game.”
Arsenal striker Gabriel Jesus said: “We started really well again. When we scored the goal, we kept playing our game, we created chances – I had a few chances in the first half also – so we can improve the level again, everyone as a team and as an individual.
“We have to concentrate more, focus more, be more aggressive with the ball, without the ball. We go home today a little bit upset because the way we played, we could have scored more goals and then won the game.”
bet365 sport. To add to the In-Play excitement, bet365 stream over hundreds of events live to your PC every year. So you can bet as the action unfolds. See all upcoming sport events you can bet at bet experts. Highlights include Masters Series Tennis tournaments and matches from some of the top domestic Soccer leagues in the world. To use the Live Streaming service you need to be log in and have a funded account. Or to have place a bet in the last 24 hours. Any fixture/event on bet365 website and bet365 mobile which has the Play or Video icon is schedule to be show via Live Streaming. bet bg
Make your bet365 registration. Enjoy a unique experience with bet365 and bet365 mobile!
Our forecasts for upcoming meetings have been carefully examine and provide in good faith, but with no guaranteed earnings. We advise you to gamble responsibly and only with the money you can afford to lose.
✅ Registration at bet365 | Account verification | Deposit money | Sports Betting | How to bet | Live Betting | Watch Live Stream | Offers, Bonuses and Promotions| Casino | Poker
18+ | Gamble Responsibly | BeGambleAware.org
BET EXPERTS
