Arsenal title hopes fading as Fraser Forster secures draw for Southampton

Arsenal 0 Southampton 0: A freezing February night may have heralded the end of Arsenal’s Premier League title hopes as they froze when only a win would do. And when they did turn up the heat, they found Southampton goalkeeper Fraser Forster invincible.

Arsenal dominated this match from start to finish, but after a run of four games without a win now find themselves down in fourth place. They were the only team in the top four not to win and, aside from the brilliant Forster, have only themselves to blame.

Mesut Ozil could have scored twice by midway through the first half as he latched on to a through ball from Alexis Sanchez with an exquisite piece of close control, only to be stopped by Forster.

The German, playing alongside fellow key man Sanchez for the first time this year following injury, was then denied by another stop from the England international.

Ozil’s failure to volley in, after Giroud headed on a Hector Bellerin cross, was as remarkable as the Southampton goalkeeper’s point blank save was extraordinary.

Arsenal were dominant, clearly intent on reversing their four-goal defeat at Southampton just over a month ago. And Koeman’s men only slowly found some rhythm as half-time approached, Oriel Romeu going closest with a 25-yard effort that dipped on to the top of Petr Cech’s goal net.

Then, just five minutes before the break, Sadio Mane found himself clear on goal only to drag a left foot shot wide under pressure from Gabriel.

Arsenal finished the half on top and despite being the better of the two teams still left the pitch to grumbles of discontent from their frustrated supporters. With only two points from their previous three league games and most of their rivals winning, Arsenal now had 45 minutes to save their season.

But the crowd and the players seemed up for it when play resumed and Giroud looked to have turned their fortune just moments after the restart. But his curling volley was expertly saved by the again impressive Forster, who tipped the ball away from the top corner at full stretch.

This was not the time to panic, nor was it the time to gift the opposition a goal, as Gabriel almost did when he lost possession to Mane with a sloppy pass straight to the Southampton forward.

But it was a brief break in a series of Arsenal attacks which culminated in yet another good Forster save from Giroud.

Wenger made his move with around half an hour to go when he sent on former Southampton man Theo Walcott for Campbell.

The fit-again Sanchez had started ahead of Walcott with Campbell keeping his place in the starting line-up, but now Arsenal needed pace to get a goal. Or so they thought.

At least they did not to worry about the threat of new Southampton signing Charlie Austin coming on from the bench to score a winner, as he had on his debut in his side’s last match at Manchester United.

Austin was out with a slight knock and instead it was Graziano Pelle who came on to bolster the visitors’ attack, replacing Dusan Tadic with just over 20 minutes on the clock.

And that was just after Arsenal had missed another hat-trick of great chances to take the lead — Walcott, Sanchez and Laurent Koscielny the culprits. And Forster, of course.

When James Ward-Prowse cleared yet another Sanchez goal-bound effort off the line it appeared maybe now was the time to panic, for it certainly looked that way — on and off the pitch.

There was a dramatic lengthy stop with 75 minutes on the clock, however, while Jose Fonte received treatment to a head injury. He returned to the action with a heavily bandaged forehead and was roundly booed for his efforts.

The tension was tangible and Arsenal struggled to cope, but it took a sensational sliding tackle from Virgil Van Dijk to deny Ozil a certain goal and Forster to keep out the follow up with four minutes of normal time remaining.

Six minutes of time added on were signalled by the fourth official but only the Saints fans were singing, the Arsenal too tense to breath, too frightened to play.

Arsenal could make up the deficit and make a late challenge, but it looks far from being a reality on this form. There were no boos at the end. Just numb silence. Now the inquest.

ARSENAL:

Cech 6, Bellerin 6, Gabriel 5, Koscielny 6, Monreal 6, Flamini 6 (Coquelin 85, 6), Ramsey 6, Campbell 7 (Walcott 62, 6) Ozil 7, Sanchez 7, Giroud 7.

Subs not used:

Ospina, Mertesacker, Gibbs,, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Chambers, Coquelin.

SOUTHAMPTON (4-3-1-2):

Forster 10; Soares 6, Fonte 6, Van Dijk 6, Bertrand 6; Wanyama 5, Romeu 6, Ward-Prowse 6 (Juanmi 83, 6); Mane 6; Tadic 5 (Pelle 70, 6), Long.

Subs not used:

Stekelenburg, Yoshida, Clasie, Martina, Targett.

Referee:

Lee Mason 5/10