Arsenal missed the chance to go four points clear at the top of the Premier League table, as they stalled to a 1-1 draw with Southampton.
Granit Xhaka gave the Gunners the lead on 11 minutes, as he neatly tucked home Ben White's cross. But Mikel Arteta's men were pegged back in the second half through Stuart Armstrong's equaliser, giving Ralph Hasnehuttl and co a valuable point in their bid to avoid another relegation battle.
Arsenal were course for nine successive wins in all competitions, having started the day one point ahead of champions Manchester City. The Gunners headed to the south coast off the back of a hard-fought 1-0 victory over PSV Eindhoven in the Europa League.
Here're five talking points from St Mary's.
1. Saints' enforced shake-up
While Arsenal have been steady and sturdy as far as team selection goes this season, Southampton were forced into three changes after their crucial 1-0 win at south-coast rivals Bournemouth on Wednesday. Striker Che Adams, who scored the Saints' goal at the Vitality Stadium, was only able to make the bench after picking up a hamstring injury.
Full-back Kyle Walker-Peters is struggling with the same muscle which put him on the sidelines, while loanee Ainsley Maitland-Niles was ineligible to face his parent club. In the trio's places came Lyanco, Ibrahima Diallo and Stuart Armstrong, as manager Ralph Hasenhuttl also changed his formation to accommodate a four-man defence.
2. Xhaka can't stop scoring
In a team filled with attacking talent such as Gabriel Jesus, Gabriel Matinelli, Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard, it's frankly bonkers that Granit Xhaka is the man who keeps getting himself on the scoresheet. The Swiss midfielder, whose fading Gunners career has been reignited this season, now has five goals to his name in all competitions after also opening the scoring against PSV Eindhoven in the Europa League on Thursday.
His latest strike was a crisp one to give Arsenal at early lead at St Mary's, converting Ben White's low-driven cross in the 11th minute with a right-footed finish. Xhaka has been Mikel Arteta's biggest success story of the season so far, a symbol of his ability to silence his and his team's critics.
The 30-year-old has now scored on successive appearances for the Gunners for the first time since netting his first two goals for the club; strikes against Hull City and Nottingham Forest in September 2016.
3. Jesus' goal drought goes on
In stark contrast to Xhaka, Jesus hasn't been finding the back of the net as often as he'd have hoped. The Brazilian striker, hoping to lead the Selecao's line at the World Cup next month, has now blanked for five games after a scintillating start to the season.
Jesus netted five goals in his first eight Premier League games, proving why Arsenal were right to shell out £50million for his signature. Now, though, the 25-year-old is acting more as a facilitator for the Gunners' other forwards, taking opposition defenders' focus to allow his teammates a better sight of goal. Jesus' best chance at St Mary's came on the hour mark as he raced away into Southampton's half, but Saints winger Mohamed Elyounoussi sprinted back to blocked his shot - and he'd be made to pay.
4. Armstrong brings home comforts
Although there's been a smattering of bright spots this season, 11 points from 11 games wasn't much to commend Hasenhuttl and co for pre-match. Southampton went into Sunday's clash sitting bottom of the table when it came to home form, winning just one of their six games at St Mary's.
That victory, rather remarkably, came over Chelsea in August, but the Saints have done anything but march on from there. However, Stuart Armstrong put his side on course for a draw when he slotted past Aaron Ramsdale to cap off a slick move in the 65th minute, with Elyounoussi turning provider and punishing some poor Gunners defending.
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5. No nine in a row
Thanks to Arsenal's superb start to the campaign, records have been tumbling at the Emirates in recent weeks. The Gunners thought they were about to make it a marvellous nine wins in a row when Xhaka's early strike hit the back of the net, and almost did again before Odegaard's potential winner was quickly disallowed due to the ball having gone out of play in the build up.
Whilst Arteta's side are still in pole position at the summit of the Premier League, the draw will be a dent in their confidence ahead of Thursday's reverse fixture in Eindhoven and Sunday's clash with Nottingham Forest next Sunday. Meanwhile for Southampton, Hasenhuttl can be chuffed that his Saints have stopped another top dog on home turf, with a trip to Crystal Palace on the horizon.
