Bukayo Saka equaliser rescues point for Arsenal as draw with Southampton threatens title challenge

Arsenal fought back for a point in a scintillating 3-3 draw against Southampton which will have serious repercussions in the title race and the relegation battle. After just 28 seconds Southampton led thanks to Carlos Alcaraz’s instinctive finish, but the real credit should go to Arsenal goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale who had inexplicably passed the ball straight to him.

If Saints’ early lead was a shock, Theo Walcott doubling their advantage – against the club for whom he made 397 appearances – was something else besides.

14 minutes into the match the Premier League’s bottom side were 2-0 up away from home against the league leaders.

But Arsenal haven’t sat top of the league for the best part of eight months for nothing.

The Gunners responded as champions do and piled forward in numbers.

Gabriel Martinelli had the beating of former Tottenham full-back Kyle Walker-Peters and it was no surprise that it was the Brazilian who dragged the Gunners back into the match when he slammed home Bukayo Saka’s cross.

Arsenal besieged the Southampton goal either side of half time but in the 67th minute it was the visitors who popped up with the crucial ‘next goal’.

On a rare sojourn forward Southampton won a corner and James Ward-Prowse’s typically brilliant delivery found the head of Duje Caleta-Car.

The travelling Saints supporters were alternating between the Poznan and Oles in the 88th minute, but Martin Odegaard pulled a goal out of nowhere with a dipping shot that gave the Gunners hope.

Two minutes later Bukayo Saka pounced on a loose ball in the box to bring the Gunners level but barely celebrated as he raced back into position for the restart. Both sides had their chances in nine minutes of second half stoppage time, but neither could land the final blow.

The result takes Arsenal five points clear of Manchester City, and leaves Southampton bottom of the league.

Saints are within three points of safety now, but will rue two huge points dropped at the Emirates. Arsenal’s next match is the long anticipated clash with City at the Etihad next Wednesday.

Talking point: What has happened to Arsenal?

Not since the April 1 hammering of Leeds have Arsenal really looked like themselves. In each of the following three Premier League matches, the Gunners have put together at most 45 minutes of their best football.

First Liverpool, then West Ham, and now even Southampton have found a weakness that simply was not present for the first 28 matches of the season.

Arsenal are not in crisis, far from it as they still sit atop the league, but they will need to produce a far better performance next Wednesday when they travel to Manchester to face Pep Guardiola’s defending champions.

Player of the Match: Bukayo Saka

The England star responded to his penalty miss against West Ham with a scintillating performance. Fellow winger Gabriel Martinelli was more eye-catching, but Saka was making everyone around him better. Saka drove forward relentlessly, forcing Romain Perraud to foul him again and again until referee Simon Hooper was forced to book the Frenchman.

Saka drew four free kicks in the first half alone.

When Southampton seemingly had the match won, Saka continued to show for the ball and it was justice that it was him that scored the equalising goal.

Player ratings

Arsenal: Ramsdale 5, White 5, Holding 6, Gabriel 6, Zinchenko 6, Partey 7, Odegaard 8, Vieira 6, Saka 8, Martinelli 8, Jesus 6. Subs: Nketiah 6, Trossard 6, Nelson N/A

Southampton: Bazunu 6, Bella-Kotchap 7, Walker-Peters 6, Perraud 7, Bednarek 6, Elyounoussi 7, Lavia 8, Ward-Prowse 8, Alcaraz 7, Armstrong 6, Walcott 7. Subs: Lyanco 7, Onuachu N/A, Sulemana 7, Diallo N/A, Caleta-Car 7

Match highlights

1′ GOAL SOUTHAMPTON Incredible start at Southampton as Aaron Ramsdale passes straight to Carlos Alcaraz who slaps his shot into the corner.

14′ GOAL SOUTHAMPTON An absolutely incredibly situation sees Southampton 2-0 up. Theo Walcott races in behind and receives the ball in the box. A single touch is all it takes to make it 2-0.

20′ GOAL ARSENAL Gabriel Martinelli hammers home from Saka’s cross from close range to lift the Gunners’ spirits.

66′ GOAL SOUTHAMPTON Hugely against the run of play, but Southampton will take a goal however it comes. Duje Caleta-Car pops up at the far post to head home a Ward-Prowse corner.

73′ SAINTS FANS DOING THE POZNAN The travelling Southampton supporters are loving life right now.

88′ GOAL ARSENAL Martin Odegaard fires off a dipping, curling shot from the edge of the box to give the Gunners a glimmer of hope.

90′ GOAL ARSENAL Bukayo Saka pounces on a loose ball and zips his finish into the bottom corner.

Key stats

Arsenal: 8 – Gabriel Jesus lost possession eight times against Southampton, more than double the next highest tally of any player on the pitch. It’s part of the Brazilian’s game but he needs to be more efficient in matches like this one.

Southampton: 1 – Saints only managed a single attempt in the second half after managing eight in the first, perhaps proving that the withdrawal of Carlos Alcaraz was a tactical error.