Jesus vows Arsenal ´will fight until the end´ after ceding title initiative

Gabriel Jesus vowed Arsenal will “fight until the end” in pursuit of the Premier League title after handing the initiative to Manchester City with their 3-3 draw against Southampton.

Arsenal failed to win for a third game running in Friday’s enthralling contest at Emirates Stadium, but they did at least salvage a point in a game they trailed 2-1 after 87 minutes.

The Gunners travel to City on Wednesday with a five-point lead on their rivals, though they have played two games more and therefore realistically have to win in Manchester.

Rather than rue two points dropped at home to the division’s bottom side, Jesus is remaining upbeat ahead of the huge trip to the Etihad Stadium.

“We don’t want to come here and talk negative because we are very positive. What we are doing this season is amazing. The Premier League is tough,” he told Sky Sports.

“Now is a difficult moment. It is time now to stick together until the end. We still have a lot of things to do this season. It is not over – we are still five points clear.

“Manchester City have two games in hand but if we want to be champions we have to go there to win the game – that is all.

“We are the youngest team in the league, though I’m not making excuses. Sometimes we do right and sometimes we do wrong.

“Everyone can make mistakes that is why it is so important to stick together. Anything can happen.

“Obviously we are not happy with the last three games. We dropped points and we know this is true – no one has to tell us. We dropped a little bit of our level and focus.

“This is the Premier League. It is so difficult to win this competition. But we are still there, we are still fighting and we will fight until the end.”

Having squandered 2-0 leads to draw 2-2 in their past two games, Arsenal found themselves behind by that same scoreline inside 14 minutes against the struggling Saints.

Carlos Alcaraz took full advantage of Aaron Ramsdale’s error inside 27 seconds and then teed up former Arsenal player Theo Walcott for Southampton’s second.

Duje Caleta-Car restored the visitors’ two-goal lead after Gabriel Martinelli had pulled one back, but late goals from Martin Odegaard and Bukayo Saka ensured it finished level.

Arsenal are the first side to avoid defeat in a Premier League game despite trailing by two goals as late as the 88th minute since Newcastle United versus Everton in January 2020.

As for Southampton, they 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.

Ultimately, though, it was a wasted opportunity for Ruben Selles’ men as they are three points from safety having played a game more than the sides above them.

“We came here with the intention to win the game, to put a big performance and show that we are still a team that is alive. I think we did it,” Selles said.

“We showed character and different variations we can do. We’re proud of the work and what we did as a unit together. That’s the way we need to follow for the rest of the season.”