Arsenal recovered from two goals down late on to draw 3-3 with bottom side Southampton, though the Premier League leaders ultimately dropped points for a third game running.

After squandering 2-0 leads to draw 2-2 in their past two games, Arsenal found themselves behind by that same scoreline inside 14 minutes in a thrilling contest at Emirates Stadium on Friday.

Carlos Alcaraz took advantage of an Aaron Ramsdale error inside 27 seconds and former Gunner Theo Walcott added a second, before Gabriel Martinelli pulled one back before half-time.

Duje Caleta-Car added a third for Southampton, but Martin Odegaard's strike was followed up by Bukayo Saka's 90th-minute leveller, leaving Arsenal five points ahead of Manchester City – who they face on Wednesday – having played two games more.

Alcaraz silenced the home fans when he intercepted Ramsdale's intended pass for Oleksandr Zinchenko and fired into the far corner early on.

Southampton profited from some more sloppy Arsenal play 13 minutes later as Alcaraz slid in Walcott in behind Gabriel Magalhaes to calmly slot past Ramsdale.

Zinchenko gathered his team-mates in a huddle and Arsenal responded through Martinelli's emphatic strike after being picked out by Saka's pull-back.

Alcaraz cleared Ben White's header off the line to deny Arsenal an equaliser at the end of the first half, with that the midfielder's final involvement before being substituted.

Arsenal, without Granit Xhaka for the first time this season, looked out of the game when Caleta-Car headed in from a flicked-on corner.

But Mikel Arteta's men have previous for staging comebacks and gave themselves hopes thanks to Odegaard's curled effort with 88 minutes played.

Saka converted from close range two minutes later after Reiss Nelson's initial effort was saved to draw Arsenal level, but the closest they went to a winner was via Leandro Trossard's long-ranger that hit the bar.

What does it mean? Point apiece in enthralling match

Southampton entered this game bottom of the table, winless in six games and without a victory away at Arsenal in the Premier League in 23 previous visits.

Make that 24 visits after a truly sensational contest that both sides will come out of wondering whether it was a good result or not once the dust has settled.

Arsenal salvaged a point from nowhere late on, but it means the title initiative is with City as they have two games in hand and host Arsenal on Wednesday.

Sloppy Arsenal made to pay for slow start

Ramsdale has earned Arsenal countless points this season, but his poor pass our from the back was pounced on by Alcaraz and Southampton did not look back from there.

Incredibly, the two quickest goals scored in the Premier League this season have been conceded by Arsenal at home – against Bournemouth in March and Southampton today.

Gunners rally to claim a point

Southampton are the first team in Premier League history to start the day bottom of the table and score three-or-more goals against the team starting the day top.

And yet they were unable to preserve their two-goal lead, with Arsenal becoming the first side to avoid defeat in a Premier League match despite trailing by 2+ goals as late as the 88th minute since Newcastle United against Everton in January 2020.

Key Opta Facts

- Arsenal have kept three clean sheets from 16 home games in the Premier League this season – only Southampton have recorded fewer shut-outs at home this term (1).

- Southampton went two goals ahead after 13 minutes and 36 seconds in this match – it’s the earliest that Arsenal have trailed by two goals in a Premier League game at the Emirates Stadium since December 2017 against Manchester United (10:20).

- Arsenal’s Gabriel Martinelli has scored 15 goals in the Premier League this season, the joint-most in a single campaign by a Brazilian, along with Roberto Firmino in 2017-18.

- Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka (24) and Gabriel Martinelli (20) are only the second pair of teammates aged 21 and under to both record 20+ goal involvements in a single Premier League campaign, after Cristiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney in 2006-07 for Manchester United.

What's next?

Arsenal head to the Etihad Stadium for that truly massive Premier League contest on Wednesday, while Southampton – three points from safety having played a game more than the sides above them – host Bournemouth the following day.