The big game of the day in the Premier League ended in a miserable goalless draw as Arsenal and Manchester United disappointed at the Emirates Stadium last night.

A point does little for either side’s respective ambitions, but Arsenal must surely look upon it as a chance missed in their pursuit of the title.

Chances were at a premium between the two sides, with the best coming in the opening minutes as former Arsenal captain Robin van Persie, now in the United camp, and home striker Olivier Giroud should both have scored.

Arsenal goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny pushed a bullet header from the Holland forward against the crossbar in the second half of a match which ultimately failed to live up to its billing, leaving Jose Mourinho’s Chelsea still top of the league.

David Moyes’ visitors were almost gifted a lead inside the first minute when Mikel Arteta gave the ball away to Van Persie, but the one-time Arsenal skipper saw his scuffed shot saved.

French forward Giroud headed an Arsenal corner wide from inside the six-yard box in what was an electric start.

However, the tempo of the match then dropped, with only a deflected effort from Tomas Rosicky causing United goalkeeper David De Gea some concern during the lull.

United – looking to make up ground on the top four following their 2-2 draw at home with Fulham – continued to frustrate Arsenal with a determined midfield display, closing down space quickly when not on the ball.

When Arsenal did get into second gear as the hour passed, Antonio Valencia cleared a header off the line from Arsenal defender Laurent Koscielny.

Giroud just could not get on the end of a great cross from right-back Bacary Sagna before, at the other end, Szczesny tipped a bullet header from Van Persie against the frame of the goal.

De Gea twice saved from Santi Cazorla during the closing stages as Arsenal pressed for a winner, but each team had to be content with a point.

Liverpool, title outsiders to some, left it late but did not falter as they won 3-2 at struggling Fulham.

Captain Steven Gerrard’s spot kick with only stoppage-time left put them ahead for the first time on the night, with the Fulham having twice led through Kolo Toure’s horror own goal (eight) and Kieran Richardson (63).

Liverpool replied through Daniel Sturridge and Philippe Coutinho, before Gerrard won it after Sascha Riether brought down Sturridge.

Tottenham also won on the road, battering Newcastle 4-0.

In-form Emmanuel Adebayor opened the scoring with 19 minutes gone and added a second after the break, with Paulinho and Nacer Chadli also on target.

The night’s other game saw Stoke and Swansea play out a 1-1 draw.

Peter Crouch opened it up for the home side (17) but Chico scored seven minutes after the break to get a point for Swansea.

The other planned matches, between Everton and Crystal Palace and Manchester City and Sunderland, were called off because of the weather.

Premier League

Arsenal 0
Man. United 0

Att: 60,021.

Everton p
C. Palace p

(postponed for safety reasons)

Fulham 2
Toure 8og; Richardson 63;
Liverpool 3
Sturridge 41; Coutinho 72; Gerrard 89 pen;

HT: 1-1. Att: 24,000.

Man. City p
Sunderland p

(postponed due to gale force winds)

Newcastle 0
Tottenham 4
Adebayor 19, 82; Paulinho 53; Chadli 88;

HT: 0-1. Att: 48,264.

Stoke 1
Crouch 17;
Swansea 1
Chico 54;

HT: 1-0. Att: 26,000.

	P	W	D	L	F	A	Pts
Chelsea	26	17	6	3	48	21	57
Arsenal	26	17	5	4	48	26	56
Man. City	25	17	3	5	68	27	54
Liverpool	26	16	5	5	66	32	53
Tottenham	26	15	5	6	36	32	50
Everton	25	12	9	4	37	26	45
Man. United	26	12	6	8	41	31	42
Southampton	26	10	9	7	37	29	39
Newcastle	26	11	4	11	32	38	37
Swansea	26	7	7	12	33	36	28
West Ham	26	7	7	12	28	33	28
Aston Villa	26	7	76	12	27	36	28
Hull City	26	7	6	13	25	31	27
Stoke City	26	6	9	11	27	41	27
Crystal Palace	25	8	2	15	18	34	26
Norwich City	26	6	7	13	19	39	25
West Brom	26	4	12	10	30	38	24
Sunderland	25	6	6	13	25	38	24
Cardiff City	26	5	7	14	19	44	22
Fulham	26	6	2	18	26	58	20

Top scorers
23 goals: Suarez (Liverpool).
16 goals: Sturridge (Liverpool).
15 goals: Aguero (Man. City).
12 goals: Hazard (Chelsea), Toure (Man. City).
11 goals: Remy (Newcastle).
10 goals: Giroud (Arsenal), Van Persie (Man. United), Rodriguez (S’hampton).

Next fixtures
Saturday: FA Cup fifth round – 13.45 Sunderland vs Southampton. 4pm Cardiff vs Wigan; Sheffield Wed. vs Charlton. 18.15 Manchester City vs Chelsea.
Sunday: FA Cup fifth round – 14.30 Everton vs Swansea. 16.00 Sheffield United vs Nottm Forest. 17.00 Arsenal vs Liverpool.
Monday: FA Cup fifth round – 20.45 Brighton vs Hull.