{"id":1306303,"date":"2023-04-21T22:26:12","date_gmt":"2023-04-21T21:26:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/?p=1306303"},"modified":"2023-04-22T11:44:05","modified_gmt":"2023-04-22T10:44:05","slug":"arsenal-3-3-southampton-player-ratings","status":"publish","type":"features","link":"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/features\/arsenal-3-3-southampton-player-ratings\/","title":{"rendered":"Arsenal 3-3 Southampton player ratings: Gunners lose control of title race despite incredible comeback"},"content":{"rendered":"

Despite a late two-goal comeback, Arsenal’s title charge took another huge hit in a spectacular 3-3 draw against bottom-of-the-table Southampton on Friday night.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Premier League’s basement club took a shock lead inside the first minute as goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale inexplicably gave the ball to Carlos Alcaraz, who made no mistake with a precision finish to the far post. Southampton were in dreamland just 13 minutes later as Theo Walcott pounced against his former club.<\/p>\n

Arsenal quickly halved the deficit shortly after but despite a wave of pressure, found themselves two goals behind again in the 66th minute as Duje Caleta-Car headed home at the far post after Armel Bella-Kotchap flicked on James Ward-Prowse’s corner.<\/p>\n

It looked like game over, but an incredible late rally saw the Gunners draw level with goals in the 88th and 90th minutes from Martin Odegaard and Bukayo Saka, respectively. A relentless push from the hosts followed in second-half stoppage time that included Leandro Trossard rattling the crossbar and Reiss Nelson coming close to another late winner against a south coast club. However, Arsenal just couldn’t find the decisive blow and now know they must go to Manchester City and win next week to keep the title race in their hands.<\/p>\n

Here’s how the players rated out of 10 at the Emirates Stadium:<\/p>\n

Arsenal<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Aaron Ramsdale – 3 –\u00a0<\/strong>Made a terrible error for the opening goal and looked on edge all night.<\/p>\n

Ben White – 6 – <\/strong>The least of Arsenal’s worries defensively and grew into the game going forward.<\/p>\n

Rob Holding – 4 –\u00a0<\/strong>Continues to look way below the level required. Too slow, with and without the ball.<\/p>\n

Gabriel – 5 – <\/strong>Pulled out of position by Walcott on the second goal. Had to work hard to help out those around him.<\/p>\n

Oleksandr Zinchenko – 4 –\u00a0<\/strong>Looked a bag of nerves throughout and fell asleep at the far post to allow Caleta-Car to restore Southampton’s two-goal lead in the second half.<\/p>\n

Martin Odegaard – 7 – <\/strong>Lost the ball cheaply in the build-up to Southampton’s second, but did his best to make up for it with some dangerous through-balls and crosses, while scoring Arsenal’s second in style.<\/p>\n

Thomas Partey – 6 –\u00a0<\/strong>Did his best to stem the Southampton flow and keep Arsenal moving forward with the ball.<\/p>\n

Fabio Vieira – 4 – <\/strong>Didn’t see much of the ball and was wasteful with it when he did. The obvious choice to sacrifice for Leandro Trossard early in the second half.<\/p>\n

Bukayo Saka – 8 – <\/strong>Never let his head drop, running at the Southampton backline time and again. Provided the assist for Martinelli’s goal and grabbed Arsenal’s dramatic equaliser.<\/p>\n

Gabriel Jesus – 6 – <\/strong>Worked hard as always, but was often wide of the mark in the final third. Missed a key chance in the second half, but made up for it with his role in Arsenal’s equaliser.<\/p>\n

Gabriel Martinelli – 8 –\u00a0<\/strong>Arsenal’s shining light on the night, scoring their goal and proving a menace for the Southampton defence. Should’ve earned an assist for his great pass over the top to Jesus.<\/p>\n

\n

Only two teammates aged 21 and under have both recorded 20+ goal involvements in a single Premier League season:<\/p>\n

\u25ce Cristiano Ronaldo & Wayne Rooney (06\/07)
\u25c9 Bukayo Saka & Gabriel Martinelli (22\/23)<\/p>\n

Iconic. ? pic.twitter.com\/Pu45JqQFql<\/a><\/p>\n

— Squawka (@Squawka) April 21, 2023<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n