Arsenal title credentials have been thrown into doubt after last night’s 0-0 draw against Southampton.
But there is a simple explanation which suggests that the Gunners, who are down to fourth in the table, five points adrift of leaders Leicester City, are not yet bottling another Premier League run-in.
They did everything but score at the Emirates Stadium on Tuesday, but came up against a goalkeeper in top form as Fraser Forster set a Premier League best for the season with 10 saves in a match.
SEE MORE: Arsenal 0-0 Southampton player ratings: Superb Forster thwarts Ozil & Alexis
Fraser Forster: No goalkeeper has made more saves in a PL match this season than @FraserForster did vs Arsenal (10) last night #saintsfc
— WhoScored.com (@WhoScored) February 3, 2016
The England international brilliantly thwarted Mesut Ozil, Alexis Sanchez and Theo Walcott to keep Arsenal at bay and frustrate Arsene Wenger, who reportedly had a row with Ronald Koeman at full time.
SEE MORE: Wenger Koeman argument: Southampton boss angry with Arsene over referee abuse
His 10 saves, 52 touches and five crosses claimed saw Forster, who has recently returned from a 10-month layoff with a knee injury, earn a near-perfect 9.57 rating on Who.Scored for his performance.
.@FraserForster: MotM vs Arsenal, Rating 9.79, Saves 10, Cross Claims 5, Touches 52 @SouthamptonFC pic.twitter.com/2Vxi4oFm7T
— WhoScored.com (@WhoScored) February 2, 2016
The bigger picture – no goal or win in three Premier League games – indicates that Arsenal are indeed going through a wobble, but it is a wobble which would have been over had it not been for Forster.
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