For 40 minutes, Arsenal looked like giving their supporters some much-needed joy by putting in a brilliant performance well worthy of a win against the champions Manchester United.
However, a couple of moments of madness from Bacary Sagna allowed Robin Van Persie to score at the ground he called home for so long, as United held the Gunners to a 1-1 draw at the Emirates in a high-octane English Premier League game.
Theo Walcott had put Arsenal 1-0 ahead in just the second minutes and the home side were in complete control, before Sagna's penalty giveaway gave Van Persie a chance to equalize, which of course he did with aplomb.
Arsenal are fourth in the table, one behind Chelsea and two ahead of Tottenham. But both of the Gunners' top-four rivals have a game in hand.
After a guard of honor was given by Arsenal to the Premier League champions, Van Persie walked onto the pitch after being given the nod to start, with Wayne Rooney partnering him up front, while Lukas Podolski was finally given his chance to lead the line for Arsenal.
It was all Arsenal really in the first half, controlling the tempo of the game brilliantly, while nullifying the threats of Michael Carrick, Van Persie and Rooney.
It took just two minutes for the home side to score the opener, and ironically, it came off a Van Persie giveaway. The former Arsenal captain, who was booed every time he touched the ball, gifted the home side the possession under pressure, which led to a quick and lethal breakaway.
Podolski played the ball to Tomas Rosicky, who in turn found Theo Walcott on the inside right. The Arsenal forward was marginally offside, but the flag stayed down and the England international made no mistake in slotting it past David De Gea.
Santi Cazorla then stung the arms of De Gea with a powerful shot from 25 yards, before United created their first opportunity.
Van Persie found space on the left and floated in a nice cross for the onrushing Phil Jones, who was given the midfield screening role, but the utility man headed just wide.
Arsenal were in complete control really, pressing United while out of possession, with great effect, while Mikel Arteta did a brilliant job protecting his back four and completely taking Rooney out of the game.
The biggest cheer of the first half came when Van Persie jumped in rashly on Per Mertesacker, with referee Phil Dowd showing the Dutchman a yellow card, while the crowd shout off off off.
Arsenal carved United open yet again, but Aaron Ramsey chose the wrong pass to Podolski, instead of playing in Walcott who was free on the right. Podolski's strike from an acute angle was comfortable kept out by De Gea.
Van Persie almost scored soon after at the other end, but Wojciech Szczesny brilliantly kept out the striker's close-range header.
However, Arsenal have this tiring habit of shooting themselves in the foot, and one of the main culprits this season has been Sagna. The Frenchman again unnecessarily put the Gunners in trouble one minute before halftime.
Sagna played a poor underhit backpass straight to Van Persie, and then the Arsenal defender looking to make amends for his mistake rashly dived in on the Dutchman inside the penalty area with Dowd having no hesitation in pointing to the spot. Sagna got a little bit of the ball, but he certainly got a lot more of the man.
Van Persie stepped up and expectedly fired home past Szczesny. There were no celebrations again, but there was a look that said: boo me all you want, but I'm still going to score.
The second half saw a much better United side come out, as Arsenal failed to maintain their momentum from the first 40 minutes or so. The game was again played at a searing pace, with both teams going for the winner.
Arsene Wenger brought on Jack Wilshere after 15 minutes, while Gervinho and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain also made an appearance as the home side looked to grab all three points.
At the other end, Rooney was having much more of an influence and with it making United a lot more potent in an attacking sense. Sagna was a little lucky not to be sent off for Arsenal for a late challenge Patrice Evra, having already been booked earlier for giving away the penalty.
Arsenal threw everything at United in the final stages, with Kieran Gibbs having a decent penalty appeal turned down, after a challenge from Rio Ferdinand. Cazorla, soon after, forced a nice save from De Gea, before United nearly scored off a counter.
Rooney picked out a wide open Ryan Giggs on the left brilliantly, but the Welshman's shot was well blocked by the Arsenal defence.
Both sides looked to find the elusive second goal in "Fergie time", but it was not to be as a point was shared.
Meanwhile, in other games, Chelsea cruised to a 2-0 win over Swansea at Stamford Bridge, thanks to goals from Oscar and Frank Lampard, while Reading and Queens Park Rangers were relegated after playing out a goalless draw.
Results: Arsenal 1-1 Manchester United; Chelsea 2-0 Swansea; Reading 0-0 Queens Park Rangers.
