"We believe that champions are people who go on when everybody else stops," Wenger said. "That's the way we can show it. Nobody believes in us but we can show we still believe and keep going. I believe at the moment my team needs encouragement more than anything."
Arsenal's display, particularly in the first half, was some way above the dismal midweek performance against Porto in the Champions League, which was hardly surprising with the likes of strikers Adebayor and Robin van Persie, captain Fabregas and first-choice full-backs Bacary Sagna and Clichy restored to the starting line-up. But still it was not the dominant Arsenal of old.
Van Persie was only inches away from giving the visitors an early lead after a fabulous one-touch passing move, the Dutchman seeing his shot go just past the left-hand upright.
Adebayor then unselfishly slid in Abou Diaby on the left-side of the penalty area, the midfielder moving the ball back on to his right foot and forcing Ross Turnbull to parry at his near post.
Arsenal took the lead from the ensuing corner. Robert Huth was attracted to the ball and when he missed his header it left Adebayor unmarked and with the simplest of tasks to head past Turnbull from six yards.
Tuncay saw a tame shot gathered by Manuel Almunia, before creating the home side's equaliser just before the half-hour. The Turkey international pounced on Clichy's charged-down clearance on the right and fizzed over a first-time cross. Aliadiere threw himself at the ball and his diving header was past Almunia almost before he even had chance to move.
Boro should have had a penalty when Clichy felled Johnson, though Van Persie missed an excellent chance to put the visitors ahead again six minutes before the break. Adebayor's cross was slightly behind the Dutchman, who tried a back-heeled effort from eight yards out that failed to trouble Turnbull.
The second half was much tighter, with the ineffective Stewart Downing forcing one save from Almunia and van Persie scuffing a shot across the face of goal for Arsenal.
Turnbull beat away a near-post shot from Gunners substitute Nicklas Bendtner two minutes from time to earn his side the draw.
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