ARSENE WENGER must be feeling like John Major as the British prime minister waits anxiously for signs of slippage in Labour's poll lead.

The Arsenal manager needs Manchester United to drop a few points in the standings if his side are to retain any interest in the title.

The startling thing is that Arsenal have hauled themselves back into contention with a side diluted by suspensions and injuries. It says much for the team's spirit. As well as the fourth-choice goalkeeper, Lee Harper, Arsenal were forced on Saturday to play three outfield reserves, and the performance reflected the dilution in quality and imagination.

As for Saturday's game, it was not a classic. A couple of bursts from Matthew Le Tissier enlivened the first half. However, in the tradition of Southampton goalkeepers, Mark Taylor dropped Ray Parlour's cross three minutes from half-time and the promising Hughes scored his first Premiership goal. Shortly into the second half, Parlour's persistent run ended with a half-shot which deflected off a defender and found Shaw on the back post for 2-0. Game over.