West Ham and Arsenal tried their best to inject some excitement back into the Barclays Premiership at Upton Park this afternoon - but both failed to produce a goal, despite plenty of effort and passion on display in front of a sell-out crowd.
The point will probably have been more palatable to the home support, who for two seasons had been used to hosting the likes of Stoke and Crewe rather than one of the top-flight's premier sides, a mark of just how far the Hammers have come under Alan Pardew.
Indeed, the hosts could have snatched a famous victory had substitute Bobby Zamora not headed wide when picked out by Matthew Etherington's centre late on.
Arsenal, though, know they will have to find an answer to their lack of a killer instinct in the final third without the services of injured striker Thierry Henry sooner rather than later if they are to challenge for the title.
But for the segregation rows between the home and away fans behind the Centenary Stand goal, there were few visible empty seats at a noisy Upton Park on what was FIFA World Fair Play Day.
Arsenal, in their yellow change strip, started brightly, with Van Persie driving a 20-yard effort just wide of Roy Carroll's left-hand post.
The Hammers soon settled, and after seven minutes, Yossi Benayoun turned Ashley Cole and got to the goal-line down the right to send over a dangerous cross, which Etherington nodded down before the ball was hacked clear.
At the other end, Carroll then produced a good low stop from Van Persie after good work by Ljungberg down the right.
In the 11th minute, Gilberto tripped Etherington around 22 yards out in a central position. Sheringham whipped the resulting free-kick around the wall, but also just wide of Jens Lehmann's right-hand post.
The visitors soaked up the early pressure, and then began to see more of the ball in midfield themselves.
In the 20th minute, Hleb jinked to the edge of the area, and fed a perfectly-weighted pass through to Cesc Fabregas - but the young Spaniard snatched at his shot and stabbed the ball horribly wide from 12 yards.
There was certainly plenty of positive approach play from both sides to keep the crowd entertained, if nothing of real quality in either penalty box.
On 28 minutes, Cole blasted an ambitious effort high over the bar from 25 yards.
Reyes was closer with his effort from similar distance a few moments later, looping a shot just past Carroll's right-hand post.
A deep ball in from the left aimed at Benayoun caused Cole some concern, as his off-balance header fell back into the path of the Hammers midfielder. However, it was a rushed effort from the Israeli, who shot wide from 10 yards.
West Ham forced an early second-half corner on the right.
Lehmann flapped at the cross into the six-yard box, and the ball fell out to Benayoun at the edge of the area. The midfielder caught his strike well, but the Arsenal goalkeeper reacted quickly to stand tall and make the save to his left.
Lehmann was less than convincing when coming to collect another centre, and Sol Campbell appeared to block a ball back into the danger area with his arm.
Sheringham was then cautioned for tussling with the Arsenal captain, much to the frustration of the home support in the crowd of 34,742.
On 58 minutes, the former England striker swept over a diagonal pass from the right towards the far post, which was just too quick for Etherington to reach.
Gilberto had to go off for treatment on his shin after making a brave sliding tackle to win back possession in midfield.
The Brazilian returned to the action, but looked to be struggling, and was replaced by Mathieu Flamini in the 70th minute.
Quincy Owusu-Abeyie came on for Reyes with 18 minutes left, and caused some concern with his pace.
Zamora was introduced with just under 10 minutes to go, and Gael Clichy replaced Van Persie.
Indeed, the Hammers striker - who scored two in the midweek Carling Cup win over Sheffield Wednesday - could have won it in the closing stages.
Picked out by Etherington's centre from the left, no more than eight yards out, Zamora went to glance the ball into the far corner, but only succeeded in guiding it wide of the far post.
