Arsenal have failed to claim their eighth consecutive win in all competitions after they were frustrated by Middlesbrough in a goalless draw at the Emirates in the Premier League this afternoon.
Arsene Wenger's side have moved to the top of the league table, but their advantage over Manchester City, who play tomorrow, is just one point.
As expected, Aitor Karanka's side camped in their own half for the early stages of the game, allowing Arsenal to dominate possession and attempt to find a way through.
From the outset it seemed as though the visitors could be in danger of a mauling as the Gunners produced waves of attack, but as it turned out, Middlesbrough managed to keep them quiet and had a handful of goalscoring opportunities themselves.
Inside the first 15 minutes Arsenal were in control, but their final touch was lacking as Mesut Ozil's free kick flew over the crossbar and Mohamed Elneny's 25-yard strike towards Victor Valdes's near post went wide.
After a dominant 20 minutes, the Gunners almost conceded out of nothing when Alvaro Negredo's flick-on from Antonio Barragan's clearance dropped to Adama Traore, who caught Laurent Koscielny napping and went through on goal, but Petr Cech saved the shot.
Just seconds later, Boro won a free kick, which was taken by Gaston Ramirez on the edge of the area but his attempt clattered off the corner of the post and crossbar, with Cech well beaten.
At the other end, Alexis Sanchez tried to open the scoring from a 25-yard free kick, but Valdes managed to palm the ball away for a corner, which was cleared by the visitors.
Karanka's side had another opportunity to nudge in front when Negredo flicked on Traore's cross towards Ramirez at the back post, but Cech pulled off a crucial save.
Just before the half-time whistle blew, Arsenal came close to breaking the deadlock when Theo Walcott flashed the ball across the face of goal, but Ozil missed the tap-in by inches.
After the break, Arsenal jumped out of the gates and put Valdes under pressure when Ozil's free kick was delivered into the box. The keeper flapped at the clearance and the ball dropped to Sanchez, whose cross went inches over Koscielny as the Frenchman was staring at an open goal.
Arsenal continued to attack and their movement almost paid off when Sanchez struck from 20 yards out, but Valdes got a touch to deny the strike.
Middlesbrough had some more chances of their own - one being an individual effort from Traore, who charged from his own half into the box before shooting from a tight angle, but Cech parried it away.
The frustration continued for the Gunners as Sanchez was denied once again by Valdes after he got in behind Dani Ayala to latch on to Walcott's pass, but the shot failed to ripple the net.
Arsenal pushed forward until the final whistle, and they avoided conceding in the 89th minute when Koscielny's tackle denied Negredo a shot.
The home fans thought that Arsenal had scored in the dying minutes of the clash when Ozil turned in Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain's cross-shot, but it was rightly disallowed for offside.
In the end, Arsenal could not find that all-important goal against a side that have not won in the league since August.
Boro remain 17th in the standings on seven points.
Danielle Joynson
