Mikel Arteta admitted Arsenal's players were dejected after their quest for Champions League qualification suffered a further setback with a damaging a 1-0 Premier League defeat at Southampton.
Tottenham's shock home loss to Brighton in Saturday's lunchtime kick-off offered the Gunners the chance to move level on points with their fourth-placed north London rivals.
But Arteta's men blew a major opportunity to capitalise at St Mary's as Jan Bednarek's strike on the stroke of half-time condemned them to a fourth defeat from five games.
The misfiring visitors, who arrived on the south coast on the back of disappointing losses to Crystal Palace and Brighton, were left frustrated following 76 per cent possession and 23 attempts at goal.