Wenger: We're not out of title race

Wenger watched former Gunner Jeremie Aliadiere deny his side victory with a clever glancing header past Manuel Almunia in the 35th minute, cancelling out Emmanuel Adebayor's early opener.

But Wenger insisted: "We believe that champions are people who go on when everybody else stops. That's the way we can show it. Nobody believes in us but we can show we still believe and keep going."

He added: "I believe at the moment my team needs encouragement more than anything."

Arsenal had their chances to win it in the second half through Robin van Persie and Nicklas Bendtner but the resolute home side held firm and earned praise from Wenger.

He added: "I must say I expected them to collapse a bit more than they did in the final part of the game and they didn't give in.

"They kept going even when they had tired legs and that's credit to them."

For Boro boss Gareth Southgate the hard-earned point was tempered by the belief his side should have had a penalty when Adam Johnson was tackled by Gael Clichy late in the first half.

"It looks to me as if Clichy's caught Johnson and I thought the one that was given against us last week was a lesser foul than that," said Southgate.

"I'm told these things even themselves out so we shall see."