PROUD Steve Wigley described Saints' 2-2 draw against Arsenal at Highbury as "the best performance since I've been in charge."

The head coach could only watch from the sidelines as his side came so close to inflicting an incredible win on the champions only six days after their 49-game unbeaten league run was broken.

After falling behind to a Thierry Henry goal, Saints never stopped fighting and two Rory Delap headers on 80 and 85 minutes looked to have sealed Wigley's first Premiership win as boss at the most unlikely of places.

But, deep into injury time, Robin van Persie unleashed a devastating shot that broke Saints hearts and earned the Gunners a draw.

Wigley said: "This is the best performance since I've been in charge - anytime you come to Highbury and come away with something you've got to have played well.

"We were very well organised and frustrated them. We limited their chances on goal.

"Unfortunately they scored a great goal with 15 seconds to go."

He added: "The performance was important - don't get me wrong, we needed a point and we were very close to a win.

"There was a few people that knocked us and said we shouldn't bother turning up but we never felt that. Apart from the first 45 minutes against Colchester that's the sort of attitude we've shown in all our games.

"If I'm being very honest, I'd have taken the point before I came but in the end we were so close.

"We knew we were going to have to play very well, which we did, but that late goal is the reason they're the best team in the land.

"If you look at the end of the season then teams that win the championship score a lot of goals late on."

Wigley is now hoping the Highbury draw will lift his side as they go into a crucial month.

During November they face West Brom, Portsmouth and Crystal Palace at home while they also travel to face fellow strugglers Norwich.

"We feel that November's a big month for us," said Wigley.

"It's very disappointing to throw away a couple of points late on like we did but you have to take the positives. They are a fantastic team and you only have to look at the subs they brought on to see that.

"We matched them and I didn't feel until Thierry Henry scored it was a problem for us.

"It was an even game, we were in it and I felt quite comfortable."