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Manchester United's 10-match unbeaten league run came crashing down against Southampton and left Louis van Gaal having to face up to the fact the Reds are on the same number of points as David Moyes’ side had managed this time a year ago.

The 1-0 home defeat by the Saints saw the Reds drop down a place to fourth in the table with 37 points from 21 matches.

Twelve months ago and Moyes’ disastrous reign was crumbling into crisis but a home win against Swansea City had taken them to 37 points while his Reds were languishing in seventh position.

“It is a bad result,” confessed United boss van Gaal.

But he was touchy when the Moyes comparison was put to him.

“So you have waited on the moment you can put this to me this season,” the Dutchman added.

“All the weeks, you have waited to put this season. The moment I have same points as David Moyes. I didn’t make it better.

“That is what I am always saying, we have to be better, we have to improve. That is why we are working very hard. All the training sessions, all the meetings, we are working at that.”

Despite starting the match against Ronald Koeman’s side with £150m of attacking and creative ability in Angel di Maria, Wayne Rooney, Robin van Persie and Juan Mata the Reds were unable to offer up a single shot on target.

It was the first time at Arsenal since May 2009 against Arsenal that a United team had failed so miserably to test the opposition keeper despite winning the possession battle 60 per cent to 40 against Southampton.

At least back then against the Gunners Sir Alex Ferguson’s side had the title already in the bag and were also heading for a Champions League final in Rome against Barcelona.

“We were the dominating team but you have to create more chances when you are the dominating team. We didn’t choose the right solutions in the third and fourth phase but that is also because Southampton defended in a very small space and very well organised.

“They came for a draw and they got away with a victory. That is a little bit of luck and unluck.

“We were the dominating team without creating chances. We did not give any chance away, except maybe in the first minute. They never reached our goal so and out of nothing they scored.

“Then we change the play style and after that I think we have created three open chances. That is more or less the same match as we did in Southampton so when you ask if it is fair, may you take into account the match there.

“Then it is fair but my disappointment is in the fact that we make a lot of wrong choices in the third or fourth phase of our attack. When you are dominating the game like we did, you have to create more chances. Even when your opponent is defending in a small space, well organised.”

Having almost cleared their injury decks United suffered yet another KO when Robin van Persie was forced off with an ankle problem.

The club are waiting to assess how serious it is but the Dutch striker didn’t need crutches when he left Old Trafford last night but has cancelled his trip to the Ballon d’Or award in Zurich tonight when his diving header for Holland at the World Cup was up for Fifa’s Puskas award for world goal of the year in 2014.