Ralph Hasenhuttl believes his side’s performance at Arsenal could prove to be crucial in the context of their season.

Saints went into the November international break with a sinking feeling after the home defeat to Arsenal but produced an excellent display on the other side of it to earn a draw at the Emirates Stadium.

It should have been all three points but even so with a crucial run of five games against bottom half sides now approaching there is something for Hasenhuttl to build on.

He said: “You know about the chances you have and it was a big chance to take the win here and in the end it doesn’t feel like a win.

“But when you know our history in the last two or three weeks and you know how big and massive this experience is for our players.

“It is more important to find back in the way and that we can do it again and this gives us belief.

“The message is that this is the only way for us to play and to stay in the league when we play like this.”

He added: “We try to play quick in front after winning the ball and I think we did it in a fantastic way and it was much better than all our games this season and the reason we created so many chances.

“In the end it was about offensive substitutions. We didn’t want to go to a back five and wanted to stay in front.

“A lot of chances but only one point.

“We showed there is no fear in any away games. Against Man City we played a bit deeper and a different shape and a different way of trying to get something.

“We had a lot of points in away games and now it’s for us to show at home we can also be competitive.”

Saints put Arsenal on the back foot from the off at the Emirates, but it was two strikes from Alexandre Lacazette, the second deep into stoppage time, that denied them a famous win.

“Being brave in the beginning against a team not full of self-confidence can maybe help you get an early lead and we had a good start with the first goal and then the equaliser was a bit too quick,” reflected Hasenhuttl.

“One time we attacked not early and then they played how they can with perfect one touch football.

“They were not really positive but we are concentrating on our game and not on Arsenal.

“It’s not so easy to defend against him (Lacazette) in the box because he has quality and good movements.

“They didn’t have so many chances in the last 20 minutes I think. We had much more.

“In that moment you must win the game with the third and the fourth goal then it’s gone.

“We couldn’t do it and we have to do it next weekend.”