October 23, (THEWILL) – Southampton rallied from a goal down to draw 1-1 with League leaders Arsenal at St. Mary’s on Sunday with the Gunners squandering the chance to open a four-point gap at the top of the table.
Granit Xhaka’s beautiful right-footed strike from a Ben White cross gave Arsenal the lead in the 11th minute and, following Manchester City’s 3-1 victory over Brighton on Saturday, Arsenal knew only a victory would be sufficient to get breathing room at the top.
Although Arsenal dominated the first half, their lead was only marginal, and they paid for it when Stuart Armstrong’s calm finish, which came as a result of superb work from Mohamed Elyounoussi, brought Southampton level after the break.
Odegaard appeared to have given Arsenal the lead again in the 79th minute, but officials ruled the ball had crossed out of the field before substitute Kieran Tierney could have cut it back. The Gunners barely threatened to retake the lead as the game progressed and looked fatigued.
Still, Arsenal extended their unbeaten streak to nine games across all competitions while also moving two points clear at the top while Southampton are currently unbeaten in three games. Arsenal are off to PSV Eindhoven on Thursday, while the Saints will play Crystal Palace at the weekend.
About the Author
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
