History does not have to repeat itself.

While Saints’ draw at Arsenal did rekindle memories of the season they were relegated from the Premier League, it must be remembered by fans, players and the manager that suffering the same fate 15 years on is far from inevitable.

Back in October 2004, Saints led Arsenal 2-1 at Highbury only for Robin van Persie to break their hearts with a last gasp equaliser. It was a tough blow.

Fast forward to 2019 and Saints led Arsenal 2-1 at the Emirates Stadium only for Alexandre Lacazette to equalise deep into injury time. A new set of players but the same winded feeling.

People often look for parallels in history but in sport there are not too many to be drawn when it comes to dealing with different eras.

A more general trend to worry about would be failing to win when you play well and failing to win when you play badly. Unfortunately, that is where Saints find themselves.

But they simply cannot, they must not, dwell.

Two points may have slipped through their fingers in North London, but there were so many positives for them to take away.

All the things Ralph Hasenhuttl said he wanted from his side were there in abundance.

There was spirit and tenacity, the press was back, they were a constant threat going forward.

If they can replicate those kind of attributes in their upcoming run of games against teams in and around them in the bottom half of the table then things will be looking up by Christmas as they will, without doubt, win the majority of those matches.

They can’t feel sorry for themselves or that this is just somehow fate conspiring against them.

If they take the many good points from the draw at Arsenal and then use them to their advantage in what is now a massive game at home to Watford then this result will feel good, as hard as that feels to believe when you are in the depths of despair.

Yes, Saints should have beaten Arsenal. They created so so many chances. And not just half chances but clear-cut ones. On another day they could have thrashed the Gunners.

It is the manner of their performance that must be held on to. While they could have defended the goals better this was a return to a simple formation, a much more effective way of playing and delivered what has to be used as confidence booster and not a morale sapper.

For Saints that is the only way to extricate themselves form their current predicament, and this game, if not quite the result, proved they have the tools to do just that.