Arsenal dropped points for the third game in a row after having to come from two goals down to draw with last-placed Southampton 3-3, falling just short of another remarkable comeback in the English Premier League.
Theo Walcott helped to deal another blow to his former team’s title hopes by putting Southampton 2-0 up after just 14 minutes as the hosts dug themselves a hole they couldn’t fully get out of.
Southampton led 3-1 in the 88th minute before goals by Martin Odegaard and Bukayo Saka dragged Arsenal to parity, and Leandro Trossard hit the crossbar in injury time as Arsenal nearly added a winner as well.
But in the end, it was a third straight draw for Mikel Arteta’s team, which let a 2-0 lead slip away in its previous two games, and a result that handed Manchester City the advantage in the title race.
Arsenal still leads by five points but City has two games in hand and the Gunners need a win against Pep Guardiola’s team at the Etihad on Thursday to stay in control of their own fate.