Eddie Nketiah played a supporting role of tireless runs and self-sacrifice but Arsenal need more

The last time Arsenal failed to score in a Premier League match was back in May. Eddie Nketiah has been in encouraging scoring form, in a rare stint leading the line.

The opponents that night? Newcastle. A 2-0 defeat at St James’ Park all but ended Arsenal’s hopes of Champions League qualification. Eight months have passed, another blank, another night of disappointment for Mikel Arteta’s side.

This draw will not require the same home truths that greeted Nketiah and Co in the dressing room that night. But as Arsenal begin a crucial few weeks that will underpin their title hopes, a first stumble.

This disjointed, disjointed display was in large part down to Eddie Howe, who fielded the Premier League’s least charitable defence.

Until the closing minutes, when his first and only significant attempt on goal was saved by Nick Pope, Nketiah was not guilty of missing chances or making glaring errors. But in a way, it told its own story.

And with the shadow of Gabriel Jesus looming, with Mykhaylo Mudryk hoping to slot into Arteta’s attacking arsenal, time is always running out for the back-up strikers.

Even the one with three goals in three games, boasting a record 11 goals in 11 home starts, whose entire game has been so much since that trip to Tyneside.

For players like Nketiah, what you don’t do is always more important.

There have been certain periods this season, of course, that have been intended to expose the weaknesses in Arteta’s squad. Instead, those spells tend to only underline the toughness and fearsome potential of this side.

Tuesday night is the beginning of another that should tell us something. Visit Manchester City next month. Tuesday night, it was the division’s worst defense. No Premier League goalkeeper has kept more clean sheets this season than Pope.

Right from the start, however, Arsenal looked set to score before long as Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli caused havoc from either wing.

Nketiah played a supporting role of tireless running, and even self-sacrifice. He took a clattering from Sven Botman in return for the set Saka off to another charge.

It took about a quarter of an hour for the first burst of his own. And in a match that turned physical tit-for-tat, Nketiah provided a rare moment of cuteness.

With his back to the goal, and some nimble body movements, he traded his marker for a dummy and spun into space. Nketiah drove into the box, tricked another defender out of the game and picked out a Granit Xhaka, who squandered the chance. Beyond that, it proved a tough night of scraps and nasty challenges.

Despite Arsenal dominating the ball, Nketiah managed just 21 touches in the first half – only one Arsenal outfield player had fewer. The second half brought some joy.

His efforts did not go unnoticed as his name rang out at the Emirates but neither he, nor Arsenal, did enough to avoid those inevitable questions: what could have happened? Or who else?