Olivier Giroud's last-gasp header salvaged a point for Arsenal in a 1-1 draw at Southampton yesterday as Arsene Wenger's side avoided a second successive Premier League defeat
English Premier League
Olivier Giroud's last-gasp header salvaged a point for Arsenal in a 1-1 draw at Southampton yesterday as Arsene Wenger's side avoided a second successive Premier League defeat. Wenger's team appeared destined to follow last weekend's home loss to Man United with another setback when they trailed to Charlie Austin's third minute goal. But France striker Giroud conjured a response with two minutes left when he directed Alexis Sanchez's cross past Fraser Forster shortly after appearing as a substitute.
Arsenal striker Olivier Giroud celebrates his goal against Southampton yesterday. Pic/AFP
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A single point, though, denied Arsenal the chance to climb into the top four. "It was a difficult game and I felt that we paid a heavy price for a slow start. We kept going. It was a game of high intensity," Wenger said. "In the second half, it was all us but they defended well. We played with many strikers. Overall, I think the spirit was great. We were relentless to the end." Southampton can consider themselves unfortunate to have seen Austin's fourth goal in three starts cancelled out late on, but they've won just one of their last seven games.
Per Mertesacker had been restored to the line-up for the injured Shkodran Mustafi. But the German was left red-faced just two minutes into his return as he gifted Southampton a goal. A poor clearance from Mertesacker conceded possession deep inside his own half and then slipped as he attempted to make up for his mistake, allowing Dusan Tadic to pick out Austin's run into the box, where the striker finished from 12 yards out. Meanwhile, in the Merseyside derby, Wayne Rooney's goal in the 77th minute helped Everton secure a 1-1 draw against Liverpool. Mohamed Salah scored for Liverpool.
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