Olivier Giroud's 88th minute header salvaged a point for Arsenal in a 1-1 draw against Southampton after Charlie Austin's goal had looked to edge the visitors at St Mary's Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

Super Eagles winger Alex Iwobi started on the bench for the Gunners in the encounter while his compatriot, Chuba Akpom would fail to make the matchday squad this time after the youngster watched on from the substitutes bench in their big win against BATE Borisov last time out.

The Saints made a lightening start here, Dusan Tadic made a quick run into their opponent's goal area before clipping a pass to his strike partner, Charlie Austin who found the top left corner with a sensational finish, with barely three minutes of action played.

The Gunners who looked unplayable against BATE in the Europa League last Thursday, threatened for an equaliser at the other end, Aaron Ramsey creating space to rifle a shot goal wards which was well parried by Fraser Forster in the 32nd minute mark.

Alexandre Lacazette failed to convert from Hector Bellerin's cross and Alexis Sanchez had another chance only to send his set piece wide in the closing moments of a breathtaking first half as Austin's effort separated the two side by the interval.

After the break, Oriol Romeu nearly doubled Southampton's advantage just a minute past the hour mark, Ryan Bertrand setting up the midfielder who rattled the crossbar with his effort as Mauricio Pellegrino's side came inches away from scoring their second goal.

Into the 82 minute, another Arsenal chance went begging, Sanchez who should have went for it flicked a tame cross into the Southampton area but the Saints did well to clear the danger and transfer upfield as time gradually ticked down.

Forster was called into action again by the Chilean two minutes later, Sanchez placing a freekick which the goalkeeper spectacularly kept out.

But Oliver Giroud came off the bench to to secure a well deserved equaliser for Arsene Wenger's side, Sanchez who had looked terrific picking out the Frenchman who sent a deft header past Forster amidst a sea of Southampton bodies as both sides settled for a share of spoils.

Alex Iwobi was benched for the entirety of the game.

Emmanuel Chinaza

Photo Credit : arsenal.com