Southampton battle back to take a point from Arsenal

Premier League leaders Arsenal dropped points for only the second time this season after Southampton hit back to snatch a 1-1 draw at St Mary's.

Granit Xhaka’s second goal in four days following his Europa League winner against PSV Eindhoven set the in-form Gunners on course for a 10th win from 11 top-flight games.

Yet Mikel Arteta’s men were left frustrated after Saints improved in the second period and equalised 25 minutes from time thanks to Stuart Armstrong’s first club goal since March.

Arsenal thought they had claimed a 79th-minute winner through captain Martin Odegaard but the ball was adjudged to have gone out of play before it was cut back by substitute Kieran Tierney.

The draw was Arsenal’s first in 32 fixtures in all competitions, dating back to a goalless stalemate with Burnley in January, leaving them just two points above Manchester City and with plenty of regrets.

Gabriel Jesus spurned two chances to stretch the visitors’ lead following Xhaka’s 11th-minute opener, while Gunners technical coach Nicolas Jover was booked for touchline protestations shortly after Armstrong’s leveller.

Arsenal's last visit to St Mary’s – a 1-0 loss – was the third of three successive damaging defeats in April which ultimately cost them Champions League qualification.

The Gunners travelled to the south coast on this occasion as the top-flight’s early pacesetters, albeit their advantage had temporarily been cut to a single point by champions City’s 3-1 win over Brighton on Saturday, and with progression from the Europa League group stage already assured.

Arteta’s men wasted little time in asserting their authority on the contest.

Xhaka had already tested Saints goalkeeper Gavin Bazunu during a dominant opening spell when he emphatically