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Premier League
Feb 2, 2016 at 7.45pm UK
 
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Arsenal drop to fourth as Southampton's Fraser Forster stars in goalless draw

Fraser Forster stars in goal for Southampton as the Saints hold Arsenal to a goalless draw in Tuesday night's Premier League match at the Emirates.

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.

Gabriel and Shane Long in action during the Premier League game between Arsenal and Southampton on February 2, 2016© Getty Images

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.

Mesut Ozil has a shot saved by Fraser Forster during the Premier League game between Arsenal and Southampton on February 2, 2016© Getty Images

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.

Olivier Giroud challenges Matt Law to a beard-off during the Premier League game between Arsenal and Southampton on February 2, 2016© Getty Images

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.

Hector Bellerin and Dusan Tadic in action during the Premier League game between Arsenal and Southampton on February 2, 2016© Getty Images

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.

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TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool18143145172845
2Arsenal20117239182140
3Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest1911442619737
4Chelsea20106439241536
5Newcastle UnitedNewcastle20105534221235
6Manchester CityMan City2010463627934
7Bournemouth209653023733
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10Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton2061043029128
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12Tottenham HotspurSpurs20731042301224
13West Ham UnitedWest Ham206592439-1523
14Manchester UnitedMan Utd196492126-522
15Crystal Palace204972128-721
16Everton193881525-1017
17Wolverhampton WanderersWolves1944113142-1116
18Ipswich TownIpswich1936101833-1515
19Leicester CityLeicester2035122344-2114
20Southampton2013161244-326


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