Arsenal missed the chance to restore their 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. Southampton’s 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.
Mikel 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 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.
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 underfire boss Ralph Hasenhuttl.
Opta stats: Rare draw for Gunners
This was Arsenal’s first Premier League draw since January (0-0 vs Burnley), ending a run of 27 league games without one.Southampton have won just one of their previous eight Premier League games against Arsenal (D3 L4), with that victory coming in this exact fixture last season.Southampton have gone three Premier League games without defeat (W1 D2) for the first time since February (a run of five).Arsenal failed to win a Premier League game in which they opened the scoring for the first time since New Year’s Day (2-1 loss to Man City), having won 18 successive such matches before today.With four goals in all competitions in 2022/23, Granit Xhaka is enjoying his joint-best goalscoring season with Arsenal, netting in back-to-back appearances for the club for just a second time (also in September 2016).Stuart Armstrong’s equaliser was his first goal in 21 Premier League appearances, while each of his previous seven goals in the competition have been scored at St Mary’s.
What’s next?
Southampton are back in action on Saturday when they travel to Selhurst Park to face Crystal Palace in the Premier League (kick-off 3pm).
Hasenhuttl’s side then welcome Newcastle to St Mary’s on November 6, live on Sky Sports (kick-off 2pm).
Up next for Arsenal is a trip to PSV Eindhoven in the Europa League on Thursday (kick-off 5.45pm). The Gunners then host Nottingham Forest in the Premier League on Sunday (kick-off 2pm).