Albion were 2-0 up just before the hour mark when Peter Odemwingie capitalised on a mix-up between Manuel Almunia and Sebastien Squillaci to add to Steven Reid's early header.
The Gunners staged a comeback with goals in the 70th minute from Andrey Arshavin and 78th from Robin van Persie, but they could not find a winner and are now five points behind Premier League leaders Manchester United, who beat Bolton 1-0.
The Baggies, meanwhile, are a point above the relegation zone in 16th place as they were at the start of the day.
Arsene Wenger's team were in need of a lift following their Carling Cup final defeat and elimination from the Champions League and FA Cup over the last few weeks, but they made the worst possible start as West Brom took the lead after only three minutes.
Albion skipper Chris Brunt swung in a corner and Reid was allowed the space to jump and crash a header beyond Almunia for his first Premier League goal for nearly five years.
Aaron Ramsey - who was starting a game for the Gunners for the first time since breaking his leg last season - appeared to be the main culprit in failing to mark Reid as Arsenal's defensive frailties were laid bare.
Moments later Jerome Thomas won the ball and broke forward, sending in a dangerous delivery that just evaded Odemwingie.
The visitors started to gain more possession but were struggling to get a proper foothold and the game was temporarily halted after 20 minutes when Laurent Koscielny clashed heads with James Morrison, the latter having to come off for treatment.
While Morrison was off the pitch Arsenal showed some threatening signs, with only the head of Jonas Olsson preventing Ramsey getting on the end of a Gael Clichy cross.
Arsenal should have then equalised when Van Persie's header came back off the bar.
The ball dropped to Ramsey right in front of goal, but the Wales midfielder could only strike it straight at Scott Carson.
As Morrison returned with a bandage around his head the Gunners continued to press, Samir Nasri seeing a cross come off the legs of Abdoulaye Meite towards goal but Carson was able to avert the danger.
Van Persie tried his luck just before the break but his shot was off-target.
There was a substitution for each side at half-time as Albion boss Roy Hodgson brought on Marek Cech for Paul Scharner, who had also taken a knock to the head, and Wenger introduced Marouane Chamakh in place of Denilson in an attempt to give his side more attacking impetus.
Chamakh soon sent a header goalwards but it did not trouble Carson and within minutes, the Baggies were almost 2-0 in front as Brunt slid in to meet Cech's cross, the captain just poking it the wrong side of the post.
Wenger bolstered his forward line again with Nicklas Bendtner coming on for Ramsey, but just seconds later West Brom did score again - thanks in no small part to Almunia.
The Spanish goalkeeper came charging out of his box when Youssouf Mulumbu launched a long ball forward but completely misjudged it before getting in a tangle with Squillaci and Odemwingie gleefully slotted into the net.
The watching Jens Lehmann, back on the Arsenal bench after rejoining the club on a rolling monthly contract earlier in the week, looked less than impressed.
When Koscielny picked up a booking for a hefty challenge on Odemwingie and Van Persie blazed a free-kick over the bar, the Gunners seemed to be fading, but a slick move saw them suddenly pull a goal back through Arshavin, who played a one-two with Chamakh before turning and rifling a shot beyond Carson.
Marc-Antoine Fortune came on for Odemwingie but Arsenal began pouring forward and eight minutes after Arshavin's strike they found a leveller, with the Russian again the catalyst.
His looping cross hit the post and Meite was unable to deal with the rebound before Van Persie bundled it over the line.
Arsenal now looked the more likely winners, but Fortune went close at the other end, cutting into the box and seeing his shot deflect wide.
Play switched once more and the Gunners sent a succession of balls into the West Brom box, but there was no way through.
Jack Wilshere shot over the bar and Carson saved from Clichy at the death as Albion hung on for a vital point.
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger admitted his team's 2-2 draw at West Brom was two points dropped in the Premier League title race - but insisted it was an important one gained for the players psychologically.
With United beating Bolton 1-0, Wenger's side are now five points off the top, but the Frenchman had spoken ahead of the Hawthorns contest about the need for "mental toughness'' in the Gunners camp and in that respect, he felt it was vital the game was not lost.
"The pitch was very difficult for us and it was difficult to pass at top speed, so it was almost more down to character and resilience - and we have shown plenty,'' Wenger said. "Mathematically we lost two points, but psychologically I think we won a point, because when you are 2-0 down with 20 minutes to go, you cannot be too unhappy with this comeback.''
He added: "I said that no matter happened today, it would not be over, but for the team it was important not to lose. With what has happened to us recently, you wonder how we would have recovered if we had lost the game today.''
Wenger took issue with the playing surface but acknowledged that poor defending on Arsenal's part had been key for both of West Brom's goals.
He said: "The pitch was not at fault when we conceded the goals - we were at fault on the first and the second, we cannot blame the pitch for that.''
Reid rose unchallenged in the box to nod home Chris Brunt's corner in the third minute, with Aaron Ramsey appearing to be the main culprit in failing to mark the former Blackburn player.
Almunia then came charging off his line in the 58th minute when Youssouf Mulumbu launched a long ball forward and completely misjudged it, the Spaniard getting in a tangle with Squillaci as Odemwingie gleefully slotted into the net.
The watching Jens Lehmann, back on the Arsenal bench after rejoining the club on a rolling monthly contract earlier in the week, looked less than impressed. Wenger made his disappointment at the mistakes plain, but refused to refer to individual names and preferred to focus on the way the team rallied afterwards.
"I do not want to go too much into individual criticism,'' Wenger said. "The players involved in that second goal know what it was about and what was good was the reaction the whole team has shown and their fighting spirit. It will be interesting through to the end because we are ready to focus and ready for a fight.''
West Brom boss Roy Hodgson was unsure what to make of the result after watching his team throw away a two-goal lead.
"We are upset we couldn't hang on because it was a sterling effort by the players, but we were playing against a very good team. With the questions they ask of you in terms of defensive organisation, you are always going to be hard pressed not to concede a goal.
"It is disappointing to be 2-0 up and not get a victory, but on the other hand, it would be wrong of me to suggest that Arsenal got anything from this game they didn't deserve."
"It is always a point gained if you are in a relegation battle and playing one of the serious contenders for the title."
Source: ESPN Soccernet on 19 Mar 11
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