Gabriel Jesus believes Arsenal’s top-of-the-table Premier League match against Manchester City at the top of the standings is a “final” after the Gunners were held to a draw by the bottom team – Southampton.
Arsenal had to come back from two goals down on Friday night at the Emirates Stadium to secure a dramatic 3-3 tie, after blowing two-goal leads in their previous two games to draw.
After skipper Martin Odegaard had cut the deficit in half just seconds earlier, Bukayo Saka’s last-second goal gave Mikel Arteta’s team a share of the spoils, but the outcome still gives City the initiative in the title race.
Saints had looked on course for a first win at Arsenal in 36 years when Carlos Alcaraz pounced on an Aaron Ramsdale error to open the scoring in the first minute before teeing up former Arsenal man Theo Walcott to double the lead.
Gabriel Martinelli’s strike got Arsenal back in it but the rousing comeback many anticipated failed to materialise as substitute Duje Caleta-Car headed in for the visitors after the break.
The never-say-die mentality of Arteta’s players may have ultimately earned a point but they now sit just five points clear of City, who have two games in hand and host Arsenal on Wednesday night.
What Did Gabriel Jesus Say?
“Even if you don’t drop the points we dropped in the last games, nothing changes – it’s a final,” Jesus said of the trip to the Etihad Stadium.
“Each game is a final, we have to face them like a final. This is the most important game of the season for us.
“We have to manage ourselves to come back and be focused again and strong, because anything can happen from now until the end of the season.
“Like the last two games, it’s two points dropped. With all respect to our opponents tonight, Southampton, they came to play the game of their lives because of the situation they’re in now, and us too.
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“This is the Premier League, it’s so difficult to win this competition.
“We are not here to always give excuses but it’s a tough league – there are some good games and tough games.”
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