“It knocked the boys about a bit as well,when they see such a great guy who gets carried off on a stretcher. It mentally,probably,had a bit of an effect on them and after that,we were a bit sloppy,” Arnold said.

The stalemate leaves the Socceroos three points behind the Saudis,who remain undefeated on top of Group B having won all four of their previous games. Arnold’s men can afford no more slip-ups in their World Cup qualifying campaign,which continues on Tuesday night against China in the UAE.

However,Arnold was broadly pleased with how his team played. “I’m always someone who’s looking at the positive side of things,” he said. “As I just said to the boys in the dressing room,it’s one of those nights when the ball wouldn’t go in the back of the net for us. We move forward. I can’t complain about the performance or the effort that was given,it was very good.”

The match got off to a frenetic start as the ball zipped around a picture-perfect Parramatta surface,which had been drenched throughout Thursday by heavy showers that did not relent at any stage during the evening.

But as the first half wore on,the Saudis grew more comfortable in possession,and Australia offered little in the way of structured play in attack;the plan,it seemed,was to knock it forward quickly down the wings and hope for the best. The visitors went into half-time with 52.4 per cent of possession,albeit with only one shot on goal;the hosts’ five chances seemed to come mostly by chance.

Fifteen minutes into the second half,the Socceroos should have taken the lead when Mathew Leckie latched onto a ball over the top,shed his marker and was one-on-one with the keeper. He seemed to pause for an eternity before shooting from an acute angle,but his effort was saved comfortably by the brilliant Mohammed Al-Yami. Seconds later,it was Jackson Irvine’s turn to miscue from point-blank range.

Al-Yami further earned his keep a short time later with a miraculous double-save,denying Adjin Hrustic’s long-range free kick and Martin Boyle’s thunderous follow-up,which initially seemed to trickle its way into the net.

The Saudis slowly fought their way back into the match – then Souttar’s injury,and the lengthy delay that followed,completely swung the momentum their way. Arnold and the Socceroos will be grateful the final whistle came when it did,and they have much work ahead of them after such a disjointed performance.

“We knew we were playing against a very good team,” said Saudi coach Herve Renard. “And without two years playing at home,we knew before it would be a very difficult game. But it’s the reason why we are very satisfied because I think a lot of teams will come here and lose the game.”

Sports news,results and expert commentary.Sign up for our Sport newsletter.