FA PREMIER LEAGUE

ARSENAL 3 (Martinelli 20, Odegaard 88, Saka 90)
SOUTHAMPTON 3 (Alcaraz 23 seconds, Walcott 14, Caleta-Car 66)

THERE was no fairytale winner this time around.

But when fans get over the frustration of tonight, they will be able to look back on the incredible journey they have been taken on this season by Mikel Arteta and his young side.

Happy St Totteringham’s Day to one and all.

With all the focus on the  Manchester City clash on next Wednesday, Gooners had hoped for and expected a comfortably-executed victory against the team rock bottom of the Premier League.

Instead they were put through an excruciating ordeal that began with conceding after just 28 seconds – and then again after crisp strike from a former player.

Always beware a team fighting for survival. But Arsenal should really have been able to see off this struggling Saints side without any trouble.The fact is the title challenge has stuttered under the money baron City’s Terminator-style pursuit.

And the prospect of travelling to Manchester for the hyped up showdown, having shipped seven from nine very winnable points, was too much to bear.

It made the atmosphere furious – particularly at the time-wasting goalkeeper Bazuni – but also unforgiving as the title-chasing Gunners seemed to lose their heads.

Gabriel Martinelli, Martin Odegaard and Buykayo Saka played well but the link up passes – normally so calm and effective – kept running astray.

The rest of the side looked edgy. Fabio Vieira was lost in the first half and it was no surprise when he was subbed for Leandro Trossard.

Jesus laboured through the night – we needed more from our Number 9.

Odegaard’s late strike lit the fuse. Saka equalised two minutes later and when the 8 minutes of injury time was called the stadium was rocking again.

Trossard hit the crossbar. Reiss Nelson almost scored another late winner. Jesus went down in what looked like a penalty after another goalmouth scramble where the ball just wouldn’t sit down. It was a total frenzy of a finish.

Fans had still been taking their seats when Carlos Alcaraz scored after a moment of madness from Aaron Ramsdale. His pass out from the back was pounced upon gleefully and looped back over into the far corner.

The goal came after 28 seconds – at least 21 seconds longer than it took for Bournemouth’s Phillip Billing when the Cherries visited the Emirates earlier this year.

Theo Walcott doubled the visitor’s lead on 14 minutes, slotting in after a defence-splitting pass from Alcaraz.

The Arsenal players huddle for an impromptu team talk. And it was not long before Martinelli fired home a perfectly timed volley after Saka raced to the line and pulled it back.

Ben White flicked on a corner, Steve Bould-style, that was cleared off the line.The Saints killer third goal came from unmarked subs free to head in at the back post from a corner.

The game had echoes of the Bournemouth match, but there was no glorious scenes this time around.Three draws from what have been three winnable games, leaves City firmly in the driving seat.

Arsenal: Ramsdale, White, Gabriel, Holding, Zinchenko (Nketiah 72), Partey, Vieira (Trossard 56), Odegaard, Saka, Martinelli (Nelson 85), Jesus.
Subs not used: Turner, Tierney, Rowe, Kiwior, Jorginho, Walters,

Southampton: Bazunu, Walker-Peters, Ward-Prowse, Armstrong, Perraud, Elyounoussi, Alcaraz (Lyanco 45), Walcott (Sulemana 80), Bednarek (Caleta-Car 45), Bella-Kotchop, Lavia (Diallo 86).
Subs not used: McCarthy, Aribo, Orsic, Onuachu, Armstong.