Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta hopes a draw with Southampton will prove the start of his side's recovery after they ended a three-match losing run in the Premier League despite going down to 10 men.

Theo Walcott opened the scoring for the in-form Saints on his return to his former club with a delightful dink over onrushing goalkeeper Bernd Leno.

But Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang finished smartly after the break to level as Arsenal ended a run of 797 minutes in the Premier League without a goal from open play.

However, the Gunners' ill-discipline cost them once again as Gabriel was sent off after being booked twice in four minutes.

Substitute Nathan Redmond struck the crossbar soon after as Southampton pressed for a winner that would have moved them briefly top of the league.

The visitors could not make their pressure pay and almost conceded at the other end late on when Rob Holding's header also rattled the woodwork.

The draw lifts Southampton above Leicester City into third, while Arteta's side remain 15th in what is Arsenal's worst start to a top-flight campaign since the 1974-75 season.