Theo Walcott returns to haunt Arsenal as Southampton star plunges former club into more trouble – and celebrates!

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang scored for the first time since September – but Arsenal were left to rue the return of a former player and another red card in their 1-1 draw with Southampton.

Theo Walcott, who spent 12 years at Arsenal without ever truly realising his huge potential, returned to the Emirates to score against his former club.

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Walcott certainly enjoyed that one at his old stomping ground

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It had been a while for Aubameyang

And while some players opt against celebrating against former employers, particularly after long spells, Walcott had absolutely no problem going wild after his delightful goal.

Walcott, now 31, made more than 300 appearances for Arsenal, scoring over 100 goals – and a lot of them were just like that.

In many ways, it was classic Walcott: timing his run to perfection and breaking through one-on-one with blistering pace, before producing a fabulous little dink over Bernd Leno.

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It was deja vu at the Emirates

And you would’ve said the Gunners could do with a player like Walcott right now, direct and deadly in front of goal.

Then Aubameyang popped up with his first goal since signing his new contract three months ago, producing an excellent finish in the second-half.

A point was better than nothing for Arsenal, who remain 15th in the table, but questions will linger over Mikel Arteta following more bad discipline.

Just like the defeat to Burnley on Sunday, Arsenal were finally beginning to get going – and then somebody got themselves sent off.

It was Granit Xhaka on the weekend, grabbing the throat of Ashley Westwood, and it was Gabriel tonight, earning a second yellow for a foul on Walcott.

That was their EIGHTH red card since the Spaniard took charge almost a year ago – way more than any other Premier League team.

Nonetheless, Aubameyang’s goal might’ve been enough to save Arteta’s job – for now.