2023-04-21 21:22:02
Football
Arsenal, without Xhaka, lose points against the red lantern
In the absence of the sick Swiss, the Gunners left feathers against Southampton (3-3), despite a crazy end to the match.
Posted
Disappointment for Rob Holding and the Gunners after this draw.
AFP
Five days before a trip to Manchester City, Arsenal lost their hand in the title race by being held in check at home (3-3) by the red lantern, Southampton, Friday, for the 32nd day of the Premier League.
The five-point lead of the Gunners is indeed a sham since, in addition to next Wednesday’s shock, City have two games less.
Only a win at the Etihad would allow the Londoners to regain the upper hand, but on their current form that seems entirely unrealistic, as the Citizens have taken 25 points from a possible last 27.
0-2 after 14 minutes
Remaining on two matches, against Liverpool and West Ham, where they had to settle for a point after leading 2-0, Mikel Arteta’s men seem to be falling back into their lack of psychological control which had cost them qualification in the League of champions last year. And the absence of Granit Xhaka, announced sick, did not help the affairs of the Gunners.
The first goal thus came after less than 30 seconds of play, with a full-axis pass from goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale intercepted by Carlos Alcaraz, before the Argentinian scored (0-1, 1st). Thirteen minutes later, on a ball recovered in midfield, Alcaraz perfectly launched Theo Walcott, a former Gunner, who deceived Ramsdale closely (0-2, 14th).
After this catastrophic departure, Oleksandr Zinchenko convened with great fanfare with his arms an emergency meeting with his teammates to remobilize them.
An initiative that seemed to have immediate effects since, after a very good overflow from Bukayo Saka, the center of the English striker was victoriously volleyed by Gabriel Martinelli (1-2, 20th).
Without a rescue on the Alcaraz line, again him, after a knocked header from Ben White at the near post, from a corner, Arsenal could even have returned to the locker room tied.
Back to the wire
The Emirates had to take a new blow when the former Marseille Duje Caleta-Car, alone at the far post on another corner, restored a two-goal lead (1-3, 66th).
But the Saints are not last for nothing and against a team as strong in the small spaces as Arsenal, their grouping in their last 25 meters was far too dangerous a game.
As the red and white supporters began to lose hope, one after the other Martin Odegaard (2-3, 88th) and Saka (3-3, 90th) put the two teams back into a tie.
In the 92nd, Belgian Leandro Trossard even saw his shot from 18 meters hit the top of the crossbar, but despite his 16th point taken after being behind this season, Arsenal now seem to be leaders on borrowed time.
(AFP)
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