Arsenal 3-3 Southampton: Gunners keep Title Hopes ALIVE with Miraculous Comeback, Martinelli, Odegaard & Saka on target as Walcott nets against old team>>>

Arsenal’s fate to win the 2022/2023 Premier League title no longer rests with them, after they played out an entertaining 3-3 draw with visiting Southampton at the Emirates Stadium in North London on Friday night.

The game got off to the best possible start, as the visitors took the lead after just 27 seconds. Arsenal goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale in a bid to build from the back, inexplicably passed the ball to Southampton attacker Carlos Alcaraz who in turn made the most of the howler to shoot home.

Thirteen minutes later, it was two goals to the good for the Saints as former Arsenal star Theo Walcott fired a low shot to double his side’s lead. The former Three Lions forward understandably did not celebrate against his old team.

The Gunners immediately piled the pressure on the visitors, as they dominated play and sought to get back into the tie. A reprieve came in the 20th minute when Bukayo Saka squared a cross into the area and Brazilian international Gabriel Martinelli struck home. The half ended 2-1 with Southampton holding the advantage.

Upon resumption of the second half, the Saints made it three with less than twenty-five minutes remaining. Duje Caleta-Car was the man who restored the two-goal advantage by heading past Aaron Ramsdale.

Arsenal begun a frantic search for goals and duly got their rewards late on. First, it was captain Martin Odegaard who struck in the 88th minute while Bukayo Saka drew the Gunners level minutes later to hand Mikel Arteta’s side a share of the spoils.

Arsenal have now drawn three consecutive PL games on the bounce and their fate no longer lies in their hands. They still top the standings ahead of Manchester City with five points, though they have now played two matches more.

This now increases the pressure to win away at the Etihad Stadium next week when Arsenal travel to take on Manchester City in a title-deciding clash.

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FULL-TIME AT THE EMIRATES STADIUM: Arsenal 3-3 Southampton

GOOOAAALLL!!! Arsenal 3-3 Southampton (B. Saka)

90′ MIN: Unbelievable scenes at the Emirates! Bukayo Saka draws Arsenal level.

GOOOAAALLL!!! Arsenal 2-3 Southampton (M. Odegaard)

88′ MIN: Skipper Martin Odegaard pulls one back for the Gunners, as his strike finds the far corner.

GOOOAAALLL!!! Arsenal 1-3 Southampton (D. Caleta-Car)

67′ MIN: Saints restore their two-goal advantage with Duje Caleta-Car heading in at the back post!

SECOND HALF UNDERWAY AT THE EMIRATES STADIUM: Arsenal 1-2 Southampton

HALF-TIME AT THE EMIRATES STADIUM: Arsenal 1-2 Southampton

GOOOAAALLL!!! Arsenal 1-2 Southampton (G. Martinelli)

20′ MIN: The hosts have one back! Bukayo Saka does well to find Gabriel Martinelli, who fires in.

GOOOAAALLL!!! Arsenal 0-2 Southampton (T. Walcott)

14′ MIN: Astonishing scenes at Emirates Stadium! Former Gunner Theo Walcott strikes low to double his side’s lead!

GOOOAAALLL!!! Arsenal 0-1 Southampton (C. Alcaraz)

1′ MIN: What a start for the Saints! Carlos Alcaraz opens the scoring following a misplaced pass from Aaron Ramsdale.

KICK-OFF AT THE EMIRATES STADIUM: Arsenal 0-0 Southampton

The Gunners come into this fixture having dropped points in their last two PL games. Mikel Arteta’s side were held to a 2-2 draw with Liverpool on Matchday 30 and just last week, let another two-goal lead slip in a 2-2 draw away at West Ham United.

Those set of results have seen reigning champions and closest challengers Manchester City reduce the gap to just four points, with a game in hand on the Gunners. The Cityzens are in FA Cup action this weekend and will not be engaged in top-flight hostilities, which means that Arsenal must get all three points tonight.

The Gunners have two factors going in their favour ahead of their clash with Southampton. They are unbeaten against the Saints in their last 23 PL home games (16 wins, 7 draws) but most importantly, a win here will see them seal a return to the UEFA Champions League group stages (for next season) for the first time since 2017.

As for the visitors, they currently occupy the last position on the Premier League standings. Time and games are running out to save their top-flight status, and manager Ruben Selles knows that survival hinges on the Saints getting a positive result at the Emirates.