INTERIM boss Simon Rusk admitted "disappointment" after Saints were unable to claim the final day point they "deserved" against Arsenal.

Kieran Tierney signed off from his six-year Arsenal with a goal in a 2-1 victory as relegated Saints set a new record for Premier League defeats.

No side in the competition had ever lost 30 in a season but Martin Odegaard’s late drilled finish into the corner ensured they did.

But, on the day that new manager Will Still was unveiled to home fans, Saints produced an admirable performance despite the late defeat.

He will have been encouraged when Ross Stewart scored his first Saints goal to equalise against the side that for a third year in a row finished second.

After the match, Rusk said: "We're really disappointed that we didn't manage to get the point because I thought, looking at the context of everything, we deserved it.

"I'm going to say that because of the effort and the commitment that went into it again but there's loads to be encouraged about. 

"Really pleased for Roscoe to get that goal, really pleased with Jay Robinson and his full debut. We're close to getting a really good point.

"In the end, we didn't but I think there's lots to like about today. I think credit to the players because as the game went on, I forgot that we were missing so many.

"There's probably four or five players who could arguably go into the back line in the starting XI who were unavailable for various reasons.

"Charlie Taylor was exceptional today and that's really nice for him because he's endured a tough year. Credit to the players that they pulled together.

"We spoke about the importance of, you know, making sure that we stay tight, we stick together, we have a spirit and unity about us.

"We wanted to finish the season with as much pride and dignity as we can and the guys that stepped in today can look in the mirror tonight and be proud of themselves."

Rusk added: "We were desperate to give them something to go into the summer break with but couldn't quite achieve it in the end.

"The solace in it was that we fought and had our moments against a top side. We can be really optimistic about what's next as a football club."