Arsenal have dropped to fourth in the Premier League by drawing 0-0 at home to Southampton, who had goalkeeper Fraser Forster to thank for keeping the scoreline level at the Emirates tonight.
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Arsenal started slowly and Southampton were the first to threaten inside three minutes when James Ward-Prowse's deep free kick had to be tipped wide by Petr Cech.
The Gunners' first chance was a little against the run of play in the 12th minute. Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil were starting together for the first time this year and combined superbly, with Sanchez finding the run of Ozil, who quickly brought the ball down before firing at goal and being denied by the left boot of Fraser Forster.
Southampton had kept three straight clean sheets since Forster's return after 10 months out and he was again on hand to keep the scores level 10 minutes later, diverting Ozil's close-range effort wide with an instinctive stop.
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In the remaining minutes before half time it was Southampton who went closest, with Oriol Romeu curling a long-range effort just over onto the roof of the net before Sadio Mane fluffed his lines after beating the offside trap to go through on goal.
Arsenal were back at it soon after the resumption, but so was Forster, with the England keeper springing to his left to palm away Olivier Giroud's curling first-time effort that was bound for the top corner.
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The visitors were on the back foot for much of the second half, although they were gifted one chance when Gabriel's pass was intercepted by Mane, who bore down on goal before firing straight at Cech.
Arsenal's most dominant spell was midway through the second period, with substitute Theo Walcott denied by a Forster double save before Laurent Koscielny headed over from close range.
The one time the Gunners did get a shot on target and beat Forster it was not to be as Ward-Prowse cleared Sanchez's low effort off the line.
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By the full-time whistle Arsenal had had 10 shots on target and none went in, with Forster making one more fine save late on to keep out Sanchez after a quick one-two with Ozil.
Six minutes were added on, but the Gunners failed to cause many problems as Southampton held out for their fourth straight clean sheet. By failing to score, Arsenal have gone three league games without scoring for the first time in seven years.
Arsene Wenger's men drop to fourth behind North London rivals Tottenham Hotspur and the other four sides in the top six also all won tonight. Southampton climb a place and go above Liverpool with a point.
Pascal Lemesre
