Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang broke his goal drought after six matches as Arsenal managed to end a run of three straight Premier League defeats but are still without a win as they settled for a 1-1 draw against Southampton.
The Gunners former player, Theo Walcott opened the scoring in the 18th minute as Southampton raced to the lead.
However, the hosts responded after half-time through their captain Pierre Emerick Aubameyang who broke the duck after 648 minutes without a Premier League goal at the Emirates Stadium to bring his side level, but more ill-discipline thwarted the Gunners’ recovery.
Gabriel Magalhaes was sent off in the 62nd minute for two bookable offences in the space of four minutes as Arsenal were forced to end a second straight match with 10-men.
Southampton continued to push on for a winner to pile the pressure on Mikel Arteta at Arsenal, but the closest they went was when Nathan Redmond’s strike rattled the crossbar.
Rob Holding almost snatched all three points for Arsenal but his late header couldn’t beat the woodwork.
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Watch the highlights of the match below
Mikel Arteta said: “We didn’t have time to think, we adjusted two or three things to try and win the game. The boys came out like we did three days ago, we scored a really good goal, on top in the game, and again we shoot ourselves in the foot.”
“When you cannot win it, you don’t lose it. Going again with 10 men and playing so long against a good side you have to take it. The boys defended with their lives and you have to take a point.”
On Gabriel’s red card: “Very [disappointed] because in that moment I was thinking to change the centre-back straight away – we didn’t even have time to do that. In the end, we got a point that considering the circumstances we have to accept.”
Stats and facts from the match (Backed by Opta)
- Arsenal have won just 14 points from 13 Premier League games this season, their lowest tally at this stage of a top-flight campaign since 1974-75 (9 pts – assuming 3pts/win).
- The Gunners have picked up just one win in their last nine Premier League games (W1 D2 L6).
- Arsenal have conceded in 10+ consecutive home Premier League games for the first time since February 2002 (11 games).
- Since Arteta’s first Premier League game in charge (Boxing Day 2019), Arsenal have been shown seven red cards, four more than any other team in the competition in this period.
- This was the Spaniard’s 50th game in charge of Arsenal in all competitions – the Gunners have won more in cup matches (14 of 17) than they have in the Premier League (13 of 33) under the Spaniard.
The gunners will do better next time.