Wenger admits Gunners suffering post Old Trafford hangover

Southampton's Danny Higginbotham (C) celebrates as Rory Delap (L) scores a header at Highbury in London in a Barclays premiership match against Arsenal. The match ended tied 2-2.

Arsene Wenger admitted that Arsenal are suffering the effects of last week's ill-tempered defeat at Manchester United after seeing struggling Southampton come close to claiming a shock win at Highbury.

Rory Delap scored two headers in the last ten minutes for relegation-haunted Saints after Thierry Henry recovered from an earlier penalty miss to put the Gunners ahead.

Substitute Dutch striker Robin van Persie spared the Gunners' blushes with his first Premiership goal in injury time.

Champions Arsenal were desperate to get back on track after losing their incredible 49-match unbeaten run in last week's powderkeg clash at Old Trafford, where they lost 2-0.

Gunners manager Wenger said: "We were suffering a hangover from last week's defeat and I was worried that this might be the case before the game as it was such a long time since we tasted defeat.

"It was a shock to lose the run but we must try to get this out of our system.

Arsenal's Jose Antonio Reyes (L) fights for the control of the ball with Southampton's Mikael Nilsson (R) at Highbury in London during their Barclays premiership football match.

"I can't say I'm happy with our performance today and we are not used to losing as we did last week. It was difficult for us but we have to give credit to Southampton for the quality of their defending.

"Our passing was laboured and not spontaneous. I have to say I am worried about our defending and I am very worried about the goals we are conceding. It was too easy for them to score from the set pieces.

"For this reason I am happy with a point in the end. Maybe the van Persie goal could be a turning point for us. I still consider Chelsea to be our main rivals for the title as they were last season."

Southampton are perennial visitors to the Highbury incinerators and they were the victims 18 months ago when Arsenal began their long unbeaten sequence with a 6-1 thrashing.

Saints sounded a warning that this match might go against usual form when Sweden midfielder Mikael Nilsson volleyed across Jens Lehmann and hit the base of the post 21 minutes in.

Saints manager Steve Wigley reflected: "I have to be honest and say that I would have taken a point for this game. I knew we would have to play well to get anything against what is the best team in the country.

Arsenal's striker Thierry Henry (R) scores the first goal of the match at Highbury in London during Barclays premiership football match, Arsenal vs Southampton. The match ended by a draw 2-2.

"They are the champions and teams like that always score goals late in games. But we worked on set pieces during the week and we took our opportunities here today.

"A few people felt we shouldn't have bothered turning up here and we've ended up disappointed to throw away points. Plus we still have to take positives.

"It was the best performance since I have been in charge. We were organised, we frustrated them and we limited their opportunities on goal. It speaks volumes for us that they were only saved by a goal 15 seconds from time."

Henry hit the post with his 28th-minute spot-kick but put the Gunners ahead on 67 minutes after a Dennis Bergkamp long ball.

Republic of Ireland midfielder Delap's headers saw the Saints produce an amazing quickfire comeback and come close to winning at Highbury for the first time since 1987.

Southampton, without a goal in 477 minutes in the Premiership, shocked Arsenal as substitute Neil McCann laid on both goals before 83rd-minute substitute van Persie's face-saving curler.