Southampton vs Arsenal LIVE: Premier League result, final score and reaction
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Granit Xhaka scored a superb early goal but Premier League leaders Arsenal were held to a 1-1 draw by Southampton on Sunday as Stuart Armstrong netted a deserved second-half equaliser for the home side.
The result moved Arsenal to 28 points from 11 games, two ahead of second-placed Manchester City, while Southampton are 15th with 12 points from 12 games.
The visitors looked untouchable in the opening 15 minutes as they launched wave after wave of attacks on the home goal, and were rewarded with an excellent opener from Xhaka, who also netted their winner in the midweek Europa League win over PSV Eindhoven.
Bukayo Saka’s flick set right-back Ben White away down the right flank and his cross was thundered into the roof of the net by Xhaka.
Southampton will have been relieved to be only 1-0 down at the break, but were much brighter in the second period and were deserving of their equaliser, perhaps profiting from an Arsenal side who looked increasingly weary from their midweek exertions.
A quick counter-attack on 65 minutes drew reward when Mohamed Elyounoussi slipped the ball into the path of Armstrong, who was composed with his finish past goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale.
Reuters
Southampton vs Arsenal
Substitution Martin Ødegaard Fábio Daniel Ferreira Vieira
Southampton vs Arsenal
Third change for Southampton now and it's the goalscorer, Armstrong, that's taken off for Edozie.
Southampton vs Arsenal
NO GOAL! Tierney gets away from Elyounoussi down the left this time and pulls it back from the byline. Odegaard is unmarked on the penalty spot and meets it first time, rifling it past Bazunu, but the ball went out of play before the cross and it won't count!
Southampton vs Arsenal
More big shouts for a penalty from the Arsenal players and fans as Tierney goes down holding his neck. They're claiming he was elbowed, but the referee allows play to carry on as Southampton break.
Southampton vs Arsenal
Southampton are still causing Arsenal issues with their high press and the visitors have to play it back to Ramsdale. Walcott is bearing down on him, but the keeper clears his lines in time.
Southampton vs Arsenal
And Walcott comes on to face his former team in place of Adam Armstrong.
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