Arsenal lead Liverpool on goal difference at the top of the Premier League after a day when just 13 goals were scored and Tottenham Hotspur fluffed their lines.
Arsenal players. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
Arsenal are ahead by just a single goal after a frustrating 0-0 draw with Middlesbrough while Liverpool joined them on 20 points after a 2-1 victory over West Brom 2-1 in the late match.
With Manchester City not playing until tomorrow (Monday NZ time), three sides had the chance to leapfrog them at the top but only Liverpool were able to claim three points.
Having won seven games in a row in all competitions, Arsenal could not find a way through at the Emirates and had to settle for a draw, leaving them one point better than City.
Alexis Sanchez went closest to giving Arsenal victory when his shot was brilliantly saved by Victor Valdes while Adama Traore forced a superb stop from Petr Cech at the other end.
Mesut Ozil thought he had won it with a goal in injury time but his effort was ruled out for offside.
The result moved them one point ahead of Manchester City, who play tomorrow, and Tottenham, who missed a chance to go top themselves as they were held 0-0 at Bournemouth.
Spurs manager Mauricio Pochettino watched his side fail to break down Bournemouth and admitted they "have to win games like this" if they want to compete for the title this season.
Tottenham goalkeeper Hugo Lloris saved well from Charlie Daniels early on while Erik Lamela hit the crossbar for the visitors and Dele Alli and Danny Rose also went close.
"It was a very competitive game, they were ready to compete and it was tough," said Pochettino, whose side remain unbeaten in the league.
"We managed the whole game, but if you don't score it is difficult to win. We fought loads and it is one point more and a clean sheet."
Bournemouth manager Eddie Howe said he was more proud of his players than he was last week when they hammered Hull 6-1.
"We went toe to toe with an outstanding team and it was a game of real quality," he said.
"We did not deserve to lose it, we had good moments too. We managed to nullify most of their threat."
Stoke City moved away from the bottom of the table thanks to a 2-0 win at Hull, Xherdan Shaqiri grabbing both goals.
Scott Arfield scored the winner as Burnley moved out of the bottom three with a 2-1 win over Everton, while champions Leicester picked up their first league win in more than a month, easing to a 3-1 win over Crystal Palace.
All White's captain Winston Reid scored in injury time as West Ham beat bottom side Sunderland 1-0 while Swansea and Watford drew 0-0.
-Reuters
