Arsenal wasted numerous chances as the English Premier League title-chasers were held to a frustrating 0-0 by Sunderland on Saturday, stalling its pursuit of leader Manchester United.
Sunderland goalkeeper Simon Mignolet produced a string of superb saves to deny Arsenal, which came closest to scoring when substitute Marouane Chamakh hit the bar with a second-half header at Emirates Stadium.
The Gunners narrowed the gap to United to three points, with both sides having played the same amount of games. United visits Liverpool on Sunday.
''We are very disappointed because we gave a lot today. We tried everything but Sunderland defended very well,'' Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said.
Wenger was particularly unhappy that Russia winger Andrey Arshavin had a second-half goal disallowed for offside, saying he was ''disgusted'' at the decision.
The French coach played his strongest possible team, despite the second leg of the Champions League last-16 against Barcelona on Tuesday, but the Gunners were still without captain Cesc Fabregas, top scorer Robin van Persie and winger Theo Walcott.
It didn't stop them creating plenty of opportunities in the first half, with Samir Nasri denied twice by Mignolet, who also showed some outstanding reflexes to tip over a shot by Nicklas Bendtner.
Eighth-place Sunderland, which had previously lost its last four league matches to scupper any realistic hopes of a tilt at the European places, was sprightly at the other end, too.
Stephane Sessegnon had the visitor's best chance before the break, the Benin midfielder skipping round Gael Clichy before his fierce drive was palmed away by Arsenal goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny.
The London side maintained the pressure in the second half and Mignolet had to be alert to beat away a first-time effort from Andrey Arshavin following good work by substitute Chamakh.
The Belgian keeper then kept out a curling free kick from Nasri before Chamakh shook the crossbar with a header from six yards (meters) in the 74th.
It was one-way traffic and Arshavin sped clear from marker Titus Bramble in the 80th, only to shoot wide from the angle.
Arsenal nearly came away with nothing, however, as Danny Welbeck's volley was creeping into the bottom corner before Szczesny dived to tip the ball round the post.
''Today's result comes at a bad moment. Will it psychologically have such a big impact on the championship? I don't think so,'' Wenger said.
