Thierry Henry proved 10-man Arsenal's saviour again as the Gunners fought back to snatch a point at Middlesbrough.
Arsene Wenger's men looked to be heading for their first defeat in nine games when Ayegbeni Yakubu made the most of Philippe Senderos' dismissal for a professional foul on him by converting the resulting 63rd-minute penalty.
But Henry rescued the visitors 13 minutes from time when he slotted home from close-range after Emmanuel Adebayor had headed down Kolo Toure's cross.
Toure will have been delighted to have played a part in his side's fightback after enduring a nightmare against Boro striker Mark Viduka. The Australian served up a striking masterclass to leave the defender chasing shadows for much of the game, but it was his French counterpart who ultimately claimed the headlines.
With Jonathan Woodgate demonstrating exactly why he has been recalled to the international stage with an imperious display at the back, Gareth Southgate's men looked to be heading for a famous victory, but they had to make do with a point on a day when they were unable to take full advantage of an under-par performance by the visitors.
Southgate insisted in the run-up to the game his side would adopt the same attacking approach they had during a seven-game unbeaten run which included four successive home victories rather than the defensive stance they adopted to secure a 1-1 draw at the Emirates Stadium back in September.
To that end, he was delighted to be able to recall the in-form Viduka after a two-game absence with a hamstring injury, although a quick glance at the Arsenal team-sheet told him everything he needed to know about Wenger's intentions.
The Frenchman made six changes to the side which booked a place in the Carling Cup final in midweek as big guns Henry, Jens Lehmann, Gael Clichy, Cesc Fabregas, Mathieu Flamini and Tomas Rosicky returned. But to their credit, it was the Teessiders who started the brighter, Julio Arca dictating play from central midfield while Lee Cattermole foraged on the right and Viduka made life intensely difficult for Toure.
However, for all Viduka's link-up with England winger Stewart Downing down the left, Boro created only once chance of any note when Yakubu headed wide at the far post with Cattermole perhaps better placed to convert Downing's cross.
Having been knocked out of their stride by Boro's pressing game, the Gunners belatedly found their feet and started to move the ball swiftly. Rosicky blasted a right-footed shot inches wide on 31 minutes with keeper Brad Jones beaten, and Henry, who had suffered a quiet start to the game, forced a good save from the Australian three minutes later.
The France international curled a long-range free-kick across the face of goal four minutes before the break with Toure just failing to get a touch as the visitors finished the half strongly.
Cattermole was replaced by James Morrison, the man whose goal in north London earned his side their point in the reverse fixture, at half-time. Boro, as they had done before the break, started at a gallop with Downing and Andrew Taylor both sending in dangerous cross, but it was Viduka who continued to cause problems for Toure.
Clichy had to get in a vital tackle to deny the Australian a close-range shot but in the meantime, only Arca's superbly-timed challenge had denied Cesc Fabregas a free shot at goal after Adebayor had prospered down the right.
But the pressure on Jones' goal was mounting and Abel Xavier had to head away from Henry after Justin Hoyte had crossed from the right.
However, the game changed after 62 minutes when Senderos hauled Yakubu to the ground as he headed into the penalty area and, although replays suggested the contact might have taken place outside the box, referee Mike Riley produced a red card and pointed to the spot.
The Nigerian calmly sent Lehmann, who had been booked for his protests, the wrong way to open the scoring and send the Riverside Stadium into raptures.
Arsenal committed men to the search for an equaliser and looked increasingly vulnerable at the back, Lehmann having to turn Viduka’s blistering shot around the post 13 minutes from time.
But the German played a major part in his side's equaliser, throwing the ball out quickly to Toure, whose cross was headed down by Adebayor for Henry to control and slide a shot past Jones.
Viduka and Rosicky might have snatched victory for their respective sides in a tense finish, but there was to be no further late drama.
