Arsenal 2-2 Southampton: Saints get it right until the most vital moments

Southampton were much the better team against Arsenal on Saturday but slack play in the key moments saw them take just a point in a 2-2 draw.

Saints took the lead when a quick thinking from Ryan Bertrand saw Danny Ings played through on goal to finish, but Alexandre Lacazette equalised just 10 minutes later.

James Ward-Prowse restored the visitors’ lead at the Emirates with a penalty rebound, but it proved to be heartbreak again for Ralph Hasenhuttl’s side when Lacazette equalised again in the sixth minute of stoppage-time.

A great start from Saints owed much to them being in a simpler system and players playing in natural position, and a quickly-taken free-kick led to them taking the lead in the eighth minute.

After Nathan Redmond was fouled, Ryan Bertrand slid a pass through for an alert Danny Ings to run on to; the striker advancing towards goal and finishing at the near post for his seventh goal in eight games for the club.

Ings then flashed a fierce shot narrowly over the crossbar, but Arsenal levelled against the run of play.

A cross from the left found an unmarked Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and, after the striker’s shot was blocked superbly by Ryan Bertrand, his strike partner Alexandre Lacazette turned home as the ball fell to him from the original shot.

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At the beginning of the second-half, both Bernt Leno and Alex McCarthy were forced into great saves to stop their sides from going behind as each of Aubameyang, Nathan Redmond and Nicolas Pepe went close.

Then, a moment that proved could have been decisive for Saints that was ruined by carelessness.

Cedric and Michael Obafemi pressed Sokratis in possession right in front of his own goal and the former won the ball back. All he had to do was roll a pass across to his waiting teammate just yards out and with an open goal, but he overhit it badly and gave Obafemi no chance.

Saints kept the pressure on though and Obafemi’s pass towards Ings at the front post would lead to a penalty being given in their favour.

James Ward-Prowse saw his spot-kick saved but was on hand to smash home the rebound as the ball was spilled back to him, but could they hold on to a deserved win and a vital three points?

Holding on could have been made so much easier had Moussa Djenepo found his shooting boots at the right moments in quick succession, and the lack of a third Saints goal would cost them dearly in seven minutes of injury time.

As Arsenal went all out for an equaliser, substitute Gabriel Martinelli put in a cross that flew across goal and to the back post where an unmarked Lacazette had the simple task of poking home into an empty net.

Overall, Saints had come so far in this game from their last showing against Everton, but how many times will we see them rue both big missed chances and slack marking at crucial times?

The importance of home meetings with Watford and Norwich next week cannot be understated.