Match Analysis: Southampton 2-2 Arsenal

Arsenal were held to a 2-2 draw at Southampton on Tuesday night that could see them lose first place in the Premier League by the end of the week.

Olivier Giroud and Santi Cazorla had turned the game on its head at St Mary's after Jose Fonte gave Saints the lead, but Adam Lallana secured a point for the hosts in a match that saw Mathieu Flamini sent off late on.

Was it a fair outcome? Sports Mole analyses the match here.

Match statistics

Southampton Shots: 8 On target: 5 Possession: 53% Corners: 7 Fouls: 11

Arsenal Shots: 6 On target: 4 Possession: 47% Corners: 5 Fouls: 4

Was the result fair?

Saints certainly deserved no less than a draw here tonight and have a valid case for feeling a little aggrieved not to have walked away with all three points. As good as Saints were, Arsenal were poor. Saying that, you wouldn't have been surprised to see Arsenal go on to win the game after turning it around early in the second half, so a point isn't bad at all for Southampton.

Southampton's performance

The hosts were brilliant in the first half, playing some quick and crisp football along the ground and creating all sorts of problems for the league leaders. They had a number of chances to extend their lead, but they must be given credit for finding an equaliser so soon after falling behind to a quickfire Arsenal double in the second half. Mauricio Pochettino will want to see more of the same in the near future.

Arsenal's performance

The first half was comfortably the worst period of football Arsenal have played this season. It could only get better in the second half, but the Gunners missed a big opportunity to put a four-point gap between them and Manchester City. They improved after the break, and did show signs of their brilliance at times, but this is a performance Arsenal will want to forget about in a hurry.

Sports Mole's man of the match

Luke Shaw: Nobody really stood out too much for either team, but Luke Shaw was up and down like a yo-yo for the home team. It's not hard to see why so many clubs are after the young Englishman, as he can burst forward to join the attack as well as look assured at the back. He also has a lethal cross in him too, which we saw countless times tonight.

Biggest gaffe

At a stage when Saints were starting to creep back on top with the game at 2-2, Nacho Monreal was played through brilliantly by Mikel Arteta on the left before spurning a wonderful chance to put Arsenal back ahead. He should have a) passed the ball or b) got the shot on target. However, he managed to do neither.

Referee performance

Lee Mason had one or two moments where he was too quick to blow the whistle although to his credit, he was consistent with both teams and ignored similar penalty claims at either end. He got the red card decision against Flamini correct too.

What next?

Southampton:

Saints travel to Fulham in the Premier League on Saturday.

Arsenal:

A day later, Arsenal host Crystal Palace at the Emirates.