Ronald Koeman says Fraser Forster's 'magic' saved a point as Arsene Wenger slates Arsenal's 'very bad' finishing

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Southampton manager Ronald Koeman hailed 'magic' Fraser Forster after the goalkeeper made a succession of fine saves to put a dent in Arsenal's title ambitions.

The Gunners drew a blank at the Emirates thanks largely to the heroics of the England stopper, who made 10 important saves in a goalless draw.

It consigned Arsenal to a fourth consecutive Barclays Premier League match without success and means they lost ground on Leicester City and Manchester City at the top.

Southampton keeper Fraser Forster makes one of 10 vital saves in his side's scoreless draw with Arsenal

Forster makes himself big to thwart Mesut Ozil in what his boss called a 'magic' performance

England keeper Forster ensures only a special finish will breach his defences in the stalemate

Koeman said: 'Not in one-and-a-half years managing Southampton has a team created what Arsenal created in opportunities today. You need to be lucky, first, and you need to have a goalkeeper who is saving everything.

'Normally it is more difficult for opponents to create those kind of chances against us. We didn't play well, but we fight unbelievable, we had an unbelievable spirit today.

'Arsenal are so good defensively with a lot of creativity and that's difficult then, of course, you need a keeper that's magic and he is magic tonight.

'He is with the [England] national team and he is one of the best goalkeepers in the Premier League and maybe in Europe.'

Saints boss Ronald Koeman admitted his side didn't play well but was pleased with their 'unbelievable spirit'

Victor Wanyama (right) lines up with his team-mates to congratulate their undoubted man of the match Forster

Arsene Wenger admitted his frustration with Arsenal's finishing but also hailed Forster's man of the match performance.

The Arsenal boss said: 'He had a brilliant game, but you expect that. We produced quite a good performance, especially in the second-half, where we created 10 good chances and we came out with no goal.

'I believe it the performance we wanted to produce was there but we cannot be happy with the way we finished our chances. What is the most disappointing was that some players missed some chances that they usually take.

'Our finishing is very bad at the moment, we have now played three games without scoring a goal.

'It is maximum frustrating because when your team puts in the energy and when you come out and think there was much more in the game like that, when you have our ambitions, it is frustrating.'

Arsene Wenger says Forster had a 'brilliant game' but was disappointed by missed opportunities

Forster saves comfortably from Gunners striker Giroud on a dismal night for the home side's marksmen

Referee Lee Mason calls for the medical staff to come on and assess Giroud after a head clash

Despite failing to hit the net in three league matches against Stoke, Chelsea and now Southampton, Wenger insisted it was the correct decision not to sign a new striker in January.

He said: 'If you knew a world class striker who could strengthen our team, you should have told me before the transfer deadline is over.

'They do not walk in the street and say please 'here is a world class striker, please take me.'

'They are all in big clubs and under contract, there was none available. We have Walcott, we have Giroud, we have Ozil, we have Sanchez, we have Welbeck coming back.

'If we think tonight a miracle man could have scored the goal for us, it's better we think who can score the goal for us. We can score goals, we have shown that before.'

Koeman confirmed that striker Charlie Austin picked up a knock and wasn't risked in the game but he should return at the weekend against West Ham.