Saints dynamo Chris Marsden slides in on Gunners goalscorer Sylvain Wiltord (ShaunBotterill/Allsport)

Replacing the famous old crest that has served them so well over many years due to copyright issues is a major step, yet 'this is not a revolution....it's evolution' was the pronouncement in the matchday programme.

However, the fact that the new logo looks little more than a crass design on a kids design home computer was not lost on the good people of Highbury.

As the hired helps paraded images of the new crest around the pitch before kick off, big cries of 'what a load of rubbish' rang out from all corners of the ground. Arsenal have doubtless paid some high powered design company a small fortune for this red, blue and gold emblem, but it's not up to much.

Not that the team were too much better on an afternoon when their title challenge was dealt a savage blow as substitute Jo Tessem headed a late equaliser to give resurgent Southampton a deserved point.

On a day when Manchester United romped to another comfortable win in their bid to retain the championship, this was Arsenal's chance to confirm they will be their main challengers for the crown once again.

Instead, they failed to convert possession into chances and, more significantly, goals on an afternoon when the hard working Saints matched their more illustrious opponents for effort, while always looking capable tearing up the form book as they kept the Gunners at bay after Sylvain Wiltord's 40th minute opener.

It was more efficient than vintage Arsenal in a first half that rarely looked like catching fire and while the home side dominated possession, Southampton looked comfortable in containing the title chasers.

With Wiltord being employed as a right winger in Arsene Wenger's attacking formation, the front two of Dennis Bergkamp and Theirry Henry must have expected a feast of openings against a side that looked doomed for the drop just a few weeks ago.

Yet Gordon Strachan has instilled a new resolve in this Saints side and their constant pressing and pressure on the ball restricted Arsenal to a handful of chances before the break. Indeed, they may have felt unfortunate to go in at the interval a goal behind.

It was to their relief of the vast majority of the 38,024 on hand when Wiltord's goal broke the deadlock five minutes before the break, as he switched play across to Pires and was there to stab home from close range when Bergkamp failed to finish off Henry's cross.

On an afternoon that will be forgettable for many Arsenal fans, Wiltord's strike was a record breaker as it meant Arsenal had scored in their 26 consecutive league game. The trouble was, they failed to build on their lead.

Southampton lacked a cutting edge and their most notable moment of their first half came when Matt Le Tissier was booked after an altercation with a linesman.

The fact that he was merely a substitute warming up made the incident all the more curious. Yet referee Clive Wilkes seemed to forget that physical contact and verbal banter is all a part of the game. More fool him.

By constantly giving the ball away and handing their visitors some impetus after the break, Arsenal opened the door for Strachan's side and after a sustained period of pressure, the chances slowly began to come their way.

Paul Telfer's 67th minute volley flew just over the bar, but as the towering Tessem came up from the back for a free kick on the edge of the box eleven minutes from time, their moment of destiny was on hand.

With a powerful burst and a flick of the flailing hair, Tessem sent a dagger through Arsenal hearts, but their pain was to become even more acute as they proceeded to wasted a couple of opening that should have got them out of jail.

Henry had earlier wasted a chance to make it 2-0 with just the keeper to beat in the 63rd minute, but Wiltord was the most guilty of all as he somehow managed to stab the ball over the bar from five yards out after Henry had picked him out with a matter of seconds remaining.

Arsenal's fate was sealed and as Arsene Wenger confirmed, they may turn out to be crucial misses. 'The players are appalled by the result,' said a deflated Arsenal manager. 'We know that three points were what was required in this game.

'You could see from the start that we were lacking some physical sharpness. We have played a lot of games in the last few days and that may have had an effect on the players. The spark wasn't there for us.

'I would give some credit to Southampton because they made life difficult for us and made it tough for us to finish off the game with the second goal. It is two points gone, but there is still plenty of points to play for.'

His Southampton counterpart was more content with his afternoon's work. 'If I had looked the fixture list ten games ago, I would have topped myself,' smiled Gordon Strachan. 'But we have managed to come through a run against Manchester United, Liverpool, Chelsea and the rest. We've done well.

'To come to Highbury and leave with anything is fine achievement and while we rode our luck at times, I felt we probably put enough into the game to get something back out.

'When you go 1-0 down to a world class side on their own patch, you fear the worst. But it showed that my team have a little bit of spirit and some decent players as well because they battled hard and got their reward.'