Arsenal dropped valuable home points as they failed to leapfrog Chelsea into fourth place after a 1-1 draw with Wolverhampton at the Emirates.
A goal from Gervinho looked to have given the hosts the perfect start after 10 minutes, but they were pegged back by a Steven Fletcher header in the first half.
Then a string of brilliant saves by Wayne Hennessey throughout the game helped keep the Midland side in the hunt for a point.
Israeli international Yossi Benayoun, in for Aaron Ramsey, played a pivotal role for the home team, sending Gervinho through on goal in the opening 10 minutes.
The striker was played onside by Ronald Zubar, whose appeal gave Gervinho a free run at goal, as he rounded Hennessey before coolly dispatching the ball into the bottom corner.
Arsenal were a constant threat on the break in the opening 20 minutes, with Benayoun finding plenty space, even if his footwork let him down at times.
Robin van Persie, still looking to break the record for goals scored in a calendar year, dragged his shot wide after being put through by Gervinho.
Van Persie was soon teasing the Wolves defenders again, constantly shaping up to hit a shot with his deadly left foot before switching to his right and putting in a cross from wide on the right.
The Dutchman was later denied by a good block from Roger Johnson, and then a fine stop by Hennessey as he dived low to his right to turn the ball around the post.
Arsenal seemed comfortable in possession, but Wolves earned a way back into the match seven minutes before half-time.
A corner was whipped in by Nenad Milijas, but only partially cleared by the Arsenal defence.
Stephen Hunt juggled the ball past Rosicky on the edge of the area, but his volleyed shot was deflected by Vermaelen into the path of Steven Fletcher.His header across the face of goal just evaded Wojciech Szczesny and crept in for a shock equaliser.
The second half began badly for Wolves as Zubar was forced off through injury.
Arsenal were dominant in possession as they went in search of a second goal, and had claims for a penalty turned down as Laurent Koscielny's cross hit Christophe Berra on the arm.
They started to turn their dominance into chances with van Persie forcing a good save from Hennessey with a free-kick before Mertesacker's header was brilliantly stopped by the Welshman.
The game threatened to turn nasty as Alex Song was put into the book for kicking Fletcher before catching Hunt high on the shin, and Thomas Vermaelen tangled with Roger Johnson.
Minutes later, referee Stuart Attwell produced a very harsh red card for Milijas.
The midfielder lost control of the ball and slid in one-footed with his leg on the floor, winning the ball in the process, with Mikel Arteta making the most of the contact.
Substitute Andrey Arshavin almost found the top corner with a toe-poked effort with 10 minutes to go, but his effort slid past the post.