Premier League leaders Arsenal have dropped points at the Emirates Stadium for the first time this season after being held to a goalless draw by Newcastle United on Tuesday evening.
The Gunners created few clear-cut chances against a resilient Magpies outfit, who kept their top-four ambitions alive courtesy of a dogged defensive display in North London.
Mikel Arteta's side missed the chance to extend their lead at the top of the table to 10 points, and have instead edged themselves eight clear of second-placed Manchester City, who face Chelsea in their next match on Thursday.
As for Eddie Howe's men, they remain in third place after extending their unbeaten league run to 12 matches, although they now sit level on points with Manchester United in fourth after they beat Bournemouth 3-0 at Old Trafford.
On a wet and windy night in North London, Arsenal made a strong start to proceedings with five shots in the opening seven minutes, although only one managed to hit the target with a strike from Bukayo Saka saved at a tight angle by the legs of goalkeeper Nick Pope at his near post.
Martin Odegaard looked the most likely Gunners attacker to create an opening for the hosts and the playmaker teed up defender Gabriel Magahales for a decent chance on the 35-minute mark, with the Brazilian looping a header narrowly over the crossbar.
The closely-fought contest became scrappy and a bit heated towards the end of the first half, with five yellow cards quickly handed out within a 16-minute period as both sides vented their frustrations at on-field referee Andy Madley.
The best chance of the first half fell to Newcastle in stoppage time when a whipped-in corner from Kieran Tripper was flicked on by Fabian Schar towards Joelinton at the back post, but he was unable to direct his diving header on target.
Newcastle made a bright start after the break, with Miguel Almiron almost picking out Callum Wilson inside the six-yard box with a low-driven cross from the right, before Schar flicked a header just over the crossbar from a set-piece.
Arsenal continued to dominate possession, though, and had attackers Gabriel Martinelli and Eddie Nketiah asking questions of Newcastle's backline.
Indeed, Martinelli almost broke the deadlock in the 78th minute when he flicked an Odegaard corner narrowly wide of the far post.
Nketiah then tested Pope in the 87th minute from inside the box on the left channel, but the Magpies shot-stopper stood firm to parry the powerful strike away from danger.
There were huge appeals from the home side in the fifth and final minute of stoppage time when Granit Xhaka's cut-back cross from the byline appeared to hit the elbow of Jacob Murphy inside the area, but VAR decided against awarding a penalty kick.
Arteta furiously jumped around his technical area and Howe had words with the Spaniard after he felt the Gunners boss had overstepped the mark in his appeals for a penalty.
Nevertheless, Newcastle managed to repel Arsenal's late surge for a winner and held on for their fourth successive top-flight clean sheet, while the Gunners failed to score in the Premier League for the first time this season.
Both teams will now turn their attention to facing League One opposition in the FA Cup third round, with Newcastle travelling to Sheffield Wednesday on Saturday, while Arsenal make the trip to Oxford United next Monday. body check tags ::
