Former Gunner Jeremie Aliadiere delivered another blow to Arsenal's fading Barclays Premier League title hopes by scoring an equaliser at the Riverside Stadium after Emmanuel Adebayor had headed the visitors into a 17th-minute lead.

Boro could have gone ahead in the second half when Manuel Almunia made a fine save to deny Stewart Downing, while at the other end Robin van Persie sprang clear but shot across the face of goal.

"We've played really well with a patched together back four and they were fantastic, the four of them. Their contribution was outstanding," Southgate told Sky Sports 1.

"We created some good chances, Stewart Downing had a really good chance and I'm really pleased, the lads have given everything and it was a really good point for us."

Boro had a strong penalty appeal turned down in the 35th minute when Tony McMahon claimed he had been tripped by Gael Clichy just inside the Boro box but referee Peter Walton waved play on.

Asked if he thought it was a penalty, Southgate said: "Yes. We're not getting those decisions at the moment because we had one given against us at the other end against Hull last week.

"Hopefully it will turn for us."

Injury-plagued Boro defender Robert Huth, who was excellent for most of the game, admitted he was probably at fault for Adebayor's goal.

"I think so, I just got dragged too far and it was probably bad positioning by myself," he told Sky Sports 1.

The defender added: "We had a plan from the start. It got a bit shattered when we went 1-0 down but we kept going, you could see Arsenal were struggling a bit and it was a great goal to get to 1-1."