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Stuart Armstrong's first Southampton goal of the campaign salvaged a draw for Saints at home to ArsenalPremier League leaders Arsenal dropped points for only the second time this season as Stuart Armstrong's second-half equaliser earned Southampton a hard-earned point at St Mary's.
Armstrong finished off a flowing team move involving Adam Armstrong and Mohamed Elyounoussi to stretch Saints' unbeaten league run to three matches.
Granit Xhaka had given the Gunners an early lead with his second goal in as many games, sweeping the ball first time into the roof of the net from Ben White's low delivery.
The effervescent Gabriel Martinelli had a shot deflected wide and Gabriel Jesus was denied by Southampton goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu as the visitors threatened to double their advantage before the interval.
Ralph Hasenhuttl's team improved in the second half but needed a superb last-ditch challenge from Elyounoussi to deny Jesus, who had broken clear of the Southampton defence.
Martin Odegaard thought he had put Arsenal back ahead not long after Armstrong's equaliser, but the Norwegian's effort was disallowed after the ball had gone out of play in the build-up.
The result leaves Mikel Arteta's team two points clear of second-placed Manchester City, while Saints stay in 15th - three points clear of the relegation zone.
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Arsenal fizzle out after bright start
The Gunners suffered a 1-0 defeat at St Mary's last season, but after taking an early lead on the south coast they appeared on course to claim a 10th league victory of the campaign.
Odegaard flashed a shot wide from Xhaka's pass inside 10 minutes, but the Switzerland international made no mistake from White's accurate right-wing cross not long afterwards.
Southampton improved as the half wore on but Arsenal, who had won their previous 18 Premier League games after opening the scoring, continued to pose the greater threat in the final third and went close to adding to their lead through Martinelli and Jesus.
Jesus' failure to get his shot off before Elyounoussi's goal-saving challenge proved costly, as Southampton rallied to claim a deserved share of the spoils courtesy of Armstrong's composed finish.
There were few complaints from the visiting players when Odegaard's powerful finish from Kieran Tierney's cut-back was chalked off, with replays clearly showing the ball had gone behind before the Scotland full-back could wrap his foot around it.
The stalemate is Arsenal's first in 28 Premier League matches - since a goalless draw at home to Burnley back in January.
More to follow.
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Southampton
Squad number31Player nameBazunu- Squad number4Player nameLyanco
- Squad number6Player nameCaleta-Car
- Squad number22Player nameSalisu
- Squad number15Player namePerraud
- Squad number24Player nameElyounoussi
Squad number8Player nameWard-Prowse- Squad number27Player nameDiallo
- Squad number17Player nameS Armstrong
- Squad number9Player nameA Armstrong
- Squad number7Player nameAribo
- Squad number10Player nameAdams
- Squad number23Player nameEdozie
- Squad number32Player nameWalcott
Arsenal
- Squad number1Player nameRamsdale
- Squad number4Player nameWhite
- Squad number12Player nameSaliba
- Squad number6Player nameGabriel Magalhães
- Squad number18Player nameTomiyasu
- Squad number8Player nameØdegaard
- Squad number5Player namePartey
Squad number34Player nameXhaka- Squad number7Player nameSaka
- Squad number9Player nameGabriel Jesus
- Squad number11Player nameGabriel Martinelli
- Squad number3Player nameTierney
- Squad number14Player nameNketiah
- Squad number21Player nameFábio Vieira
Line-ups
Southampton
Formation 4-4-2
- 31Bazunu
- 4LyancoBooked at 90mins
- 6Caleta-Car
- 22Salisu
- 15Perraud
- 24Elyounoussi
- 8Ward-Prowse
- 27Diallo
- 17S ArmstrongSubstituted forEdozieat 80'minutes
- 9A ArmstrongSubstituted forWalcottat 73'minutesBooked at 89mins
- 7AriboSubstituted forAdamsat 73'minutes
Substitutes
- 1McCarthy
- 10Adams
- 18Mara
- 19Djenepo
- 23Edozie
- 28Larios López
- 32Walcott
- 50Finnigan
- 61Payne
Arsenal
Formation 4-3-3
- 1Ramsdale
- 4WhiteSubstituted forTierneyat 72'minutes
- 12Saliba
- 6Gabriel
- 18Tomiyasu
- 8ØdegaardSubstituted forFerreira Vieiraat 83'minutes
- 5Partey
- 34Xhaka
- 7SakaBooked at 29mins
- 9Gabriel Jesus
- 11MartinelliSubstituted forNketiahat 71'minutes
Substitutes
- 3Tierney
- 14Nketiah
- 16Holding
- 17Cédric Soares
- 21Ferreira Vieira
- 23Sambi Lokonga
- 24Nelson
- 27Oliveira Alencar
- 30Turner
Live Text
Match ends, Southampton 1, Arsenal 1.
Second Half ends, Southampton 1, Arsenal 1.
Attempt missed. Gabriel Magalhães (Arsenal) header from the centre of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Thomas Partey.
Foul by Granit Xhaka (Arsenal).
Che Adams (Southampton) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Lyanco (Southampton) is shown the yellow card.
Foul by Eddie Nketiah (Arsenal).
Lyanco (Southampton) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Eddie Nketiah (Arsenal) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Ibrahima Diallo (Southampton).
Theo Walcott (Southampton) is shown the yellow card.
Theo Walcott (Southampton) has gone down, but the referee deems it simulation.
Offside, Southampton. Mohammed Salisu tries a through ball, but Romain Perraud is caught offside.
Fábio Vieira (Arsenal) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Mohammed Salisu (Southampton).
Corner, Southampton. Conceded by William Saliba.
Substitution, Arsenal. Fábio Vieira replaces Martin Ødegaard.
Offside, Southampton. Romain Perraud tries a through ball, but Theo Walcott is caught offside.
Corner, Arsenal. Conceded by Lyanco.
Attempt blocked. Eddie Nketiah (Arsenal) right footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Martin Ødegaard.
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