ARSENAL LOST FURTHER ground in the Premier League title race as Fraser Forster produced a stunning display to earn Southampton a goalless draw at Emirates Stadium.
The Southampton goalkeeper made a string of fine saves to ensure Arsene Wenger’s side failed to score at home in the league for the fourth time this season and are now four games without a win in the top flight.
Mesut Ozil had three clear chances to break the deadlock in the first half as Arsenal struggled to break down a resolute Southampton defence.
Ozil was unable to find a way past Forster, though, and the England international was on hand again after the break to deny Olivier Giroud and Alexis Sanchez.
Southampton could have inflicted even more misery on the Gunners had Sadio Mane and Dusan Tadic done better with chances of their own.
The draw – combined with Tottenham’s win over Norwich City – sees Arsenal slip to fourth, five points adrift of leaders Leicester City, while Saints climb to seventh.
Harry Kane scored twice for Spurs as they easily brushed past the Canaries to claim third spot.
They were in the driving seat inside the first two minutes when Dele Alli turned home after Christian Eriksen’s shot was blocked.
The youngster, in such superb form currently, was involved in his side’s second goal too, brought down in the area on the half hour mark. Kane stepped up and made little mistake from the spot.
The striker added a third in injury time.
Elsewhere, Manchester City had to dig deep to get past Sunderland at the Stadium of Light.
Sergio Aguero’s 16th-minute strike proved the difference between the sides as City took to the field for the first time since Manuel Pellegrini revealed he will be leaving the club at the end of the season.
The victory was enough to see them remain three points behind Leicester.
At the other end of the table, Jordan Ayew’s foolish red card after only seventeen minutes cost Aston Villa dearly against West Ham.
The Ghana international was dismissed after elbowing Aaron Cresswell and from then on, the dynamic of the game changed.
Despite their best efforts, they were eventually picked off in the second half as Michail Antonio and Cheikhou Kouyate ensured a 2-0 Hammers’ win.
Swansea were denied a rare win by Salomon Rondon’s injury-time equaliser for West Brom while a cameo appearance from Emmanuel Adebayor wasn’t enough for Crystal Palace as their losing streak was extended to five games. Bournemouth came from behind to conjure a 2-1 win as goals from Marc Pugh and Benik Afobe cancelled out Scott Dann’s opener.
Additional reporting by Eoin O’Callaghan
