SHAMBOLIC Arsenal hit a new low as they snatched a desperate 96th-minute equaliser to deny Southampton their first away win here since 1987.
Yet it still wasn’t enough to prevent Unai Emery and his team being booed off the pitch as they dropped to seventh place in the Premier League.
James Ward-Prowse bagged another hammer blow to Unai Emery by sticking in the winning goal at the EmiratesCredit: EPA
Alexandre Lacazette scored twice including a 96th-minute equaliser to rescue a point but Arsenal were still booed offCredit: Getty Images – Getty
Alexandre Lacazette’s late, late equaliser from Gabriel Martinelli’s cross came after struggling Saints missed two glorious stoppage-time chances to put this game to bed.
Now Emery is desperately clinging on to his job after watching his shell-shocked team falling apart at the seams.
Without a win in their previous five games, the miserable Gunners could not have got off to a worse possible start as they fell behind after just eight minutes.
Calum Chambers’ rash challenge on Nathan Redmond allowed Ryan Bertrand to play in Danny Ings with a quick free-kick and Southampton’s top scorer beat Bernd Leno with a low shot in off the near post.
It could have been even worse for the miserable Gunners six minutes later when Michael Obafemi got around the back to tee up Ings for another shot which flashed just over the bar.
That was the signal for the fuming Emirates crowd to turn their wrath on Emery as his team struggled to contain their relegation-threatened visitors.
But just when it was beginning to look as though Emery could be joining Mauricio Pochettino in the North London dole queue, his team finally came up with a positive response.
Kieran Tierney’s 19th-minute cross picked out captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang for a shot which was charged down by Bertrand.
But when the ball fell kindly into the path of Lacazette, the £56million Frenchman made no mistake from close range to score his first goal since September 1.
Bernd Leno went the right way to save the penalty but could do nothing about the reboundCredit: Reuters
Aubameyang was denied by a sharp save from Alex McCarthy and substitute Niocolas Pepe struck the bar with an acrobatic volley as Arsenal looked to go through the gears.
But they were hugely fortunate to escape unscathed when the dithering Sokratis was robbed in his own area by Cedric, whose cross for Obafemi was just out of reach of the young striker.
And there was no let-off 25 minutes into the second-half when Ings was pulled down in the box by Tierney and Ward-Prowse scored after his penalty had been blocked by Leno before Lacazette salvaged a point with seconds remaining.
Danny Ings gave Southampton a surprise lead as he tucked the ball past Bernd LenoCredit: Getty Images – Getty
Saints players celebrate taking their early lead with just eight minutes on the clockCredit: AFP or licensors
Alexandre Lacazette blasts home to make it 1-1 with 18 minutes playedCredit: AFP or licensors
Lacazette celebrates levelling things up with his first goal since September 1Credit: AFP or licensors
Unai Emery was determined to get his side’s season back on track by beating struggling Southampton at home but had no such joyCredit: Getty Images – Getty
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
