The Gunners' performance was far from convincing but will still bring some relief to their beleaguered manager Arsene Wenger.
There was a period after Alvaro Negredo scored an equaliser when Middlesbrough, who have won only four league games this season, looked capable of going on to claim their fifth scalp.
Arsenal are new seven points behind fourth-placed Manchester City with a game in hand, while Middlesbrough lie six points from safety and have also played one game fewer than most of the teams above them.
"It (the top four) is mathematically still alive," Wenger told Sky Sports.
"We knew we needed to win. Now we have a little break with the FA Cup (they play Manchester City on Sunday in the semifinal) and then we come back again to the league."
