Arsenal have moved into first place in the Premier League table despite being held to a 0-0 draw at home to Middlesbrough.
The Teesiders gatecrashed Arsene Wenger's 67th birthday celebrations in a match that the away side could have secured all three points from, and ended the Gunners' seven match winning streak in the process.
A host of chances fell the way of both clubs in a tantalising encounter at the Emirates, but neither team could find the elusive breakthrough in a game lacking any clinical touch.
Alvaro Negredo: Had more shots in the first half of Arsenal 0-0 Middlesbrough (4) than Arsenal managed as a whole (3) #ARSMID
Fresh from their 6-0 demolition of Ludogorets in midweek, Arsenal threatened Middlesbrough's goal twice in the opening 10 minutes - Mesut Ozil arcing a free kick over the bar before Mohamed Elenny sent a fizzing long range strike wide of the target.
For all their early dominance, though, the Gunners only had those two efforts to show for their endeavours and, on 19 minutes, almost found themselves 1-0 down to the visitors.
Adama Traore, who was starting his first ever Premier League game, stole the ball off the lackadaisical Laurent Koscielny midway inside the Arsenal half. Bearing down on goal, the speedy winger drew a fine near post stop from Petr Cech, and the shot stopper was quick to his feet to deny Alvaro Negrdo from stroking home the rebound seconds later.
Buoyed by those chances after being pegged in their half during the opening exchanges, Boro pressed for a shock lead. Gaston Ramirez crashed a free kick against the angle of post and crossbar, before the Uruguay international saw a header spurned at the far post by Cech after Arsenal's tormentor-in-chief Traore's whipped cross had fallen the play-maker's way.
Arsene Wenger's men, meanwhile, had struggled to create anything of note for some time, with Alexis Sanchez's curling free kick being turned behind by the sprawling Victor Valdes inbetween Ramirez's two glorious efforts.
Koscielny somehow contrived to turn home Sanchez's cross from three yards out after Valdes had dropped a loose ball from an Ozil free kick at the start of the second 45, while Ben Gibson's perfect interception prevented Alex Iwobi from notching a certain goal from Hector Bellerin's low centre.
Sanchez then whipped the latest in a plethora of direct free kicks just wide as the home side upped the ante, before the Chile international's fierce strike produced a wonderful one handed save form Valdes soon after.
Bellerin's block on Marten de Roon's stretched shot prevented Middlesbrough from making Arsenal pay for their profligacy, Cech's agile save stopped Traore's stinging effort finding the bottom right hand corner and Valdes comfortably held Sanchez's scuffed chance as the sides traded blows.
Koscielny's last ditch challenge prevented Negredo from handing Boro a shock win in the dying minutes, while Ozil saw a dinked effort ruled for offside, but Aitor Karanka's men saw off five additional minutes to earn a much needed point in North London.
No one should ever underestimate the importance of Santi Carzola. Sanchez & Ozil get the praise but Carzola is the metronome #ARSMID
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