Source: Daily_Mail
Arsenal 2 Everton 2: Gunners fall flat without absent midfielder Song
For 90 minutes it seemed Arsenal, like other parts of the country, were running out of grit. Perhaps it was a consequence of fighting the elements in an effort to stage two Barclays Premier League games in four days.[LNB]Unlike the previous fixture against Bolton the previous Wednesday, this one beat the snow and ice, but the Gunners still froze as the absence of Alex Song left a huge hole and Everton's snarling midfield dominated.[LNB]Only luck delivered a point for manager Arsene Wenger. Twice the visitors went ahead, through Leon Osman and a wonderful goal from Steven Pienaar, but two heavily deflected equalisers followed, first from Denilson and then Tomas Rosicky.[LNB]Substitute Rosicky's first goal at the Emirates Stadium for more than two years came deep into added time when all three points ought to have been on their way to Merseyside.[LNB] One giant leap: Osman heads the Toffees into a deserved lead[LNB]'Unfortunately, I knew before he left that he'd be missed,' said Wenger as he discussed the Song factor.[LNB]The combative midfielder, away with Cameroon at the Africa Cup ofNations, has emerged as a pivotal figure for Arsenal this season,anchoring the team's fluid front six and taking the defensive strainfrom more creative forces around him.[LNB]'I do not want to draw a quick conclusion because too many players wereoff the pace,' Wenger added. 'We struggled for a while when we lostRobin van Persie, so we have to find a new balance, newresponsibilities and a share of responsibilities in our game.' [LNB]Missing: Alex Song is on international duty[LNB]The form of Arsenal's midfield trio has been crucial to their December recovery but problems were evident from the first minute on Saturday, when Osman bit into two challenges on Aaron Ramsey, the 19-year-old who has deputised in midfield so impressively for Cesc Fabregas.[LNB]Ramsey turned to plead with referee Peter Walton but they were good tackles and they set the mood. [LNB]Denilson, in for Song, took too long to pick up the pace of the game as did Abou Diaby, who eventually stirred to impose himself as the driving force behind the added time rally.[LNB]Everton midfielder Pienaar said: 'The game plan was to be aggressive in the midfield. Give Arsenal two metres and they will play you off the field but they were missing a lot of key players.[LNB]'Song was not there and we knew we could get them on the counter attack. We stuck to it and it paid off.'[LNB] Fortunate: Arsenal draw level courtesy of Denilson's deflected drive[LNB]Everton were also inspired by the humiliating memory of a 6-1 hammering by Arsenal at Goodison Park in their first game of the season.[LNB]'We'd been talking about it all week,' Pienaar added. 'We had a point to prove because the way we played was just a disgrace to the people, the supporters, our families. The guys wanted to make things right.'[LNB]Osman opened the scoring after 12 minutes, arriving unmarked to head in Landon Donovan's corner. It was also Osman on defensive duty who deflected Denilson's 20-yarder and wrong-footed goalkeeper Tim Howard for the equaliser before half-time. [LNB]Pienaar's goal was the sublime moment of the game, a clinical counter-attack in the thick of a second-half snow storm. [LNB]Tim Cahill supplied the perfect pass to the South Africa star, who sprinted clear of Samir Nasri and chipped Manuel Almunia as the Arsenal keeper scrambled from his line.[LNB]Everton manager David Moyes said: 'I wouldn't say finishing was his strongest point, but that was unbelievable, especially on that pitch, with snow on it. It will take something special to beat it for 'Goal of the Season'.[LNB]'If it was Thierry Henry or Dennis Bergkamp who'd done it, everyone would be saying, 'What a goal'.'[LNB]Pienaar admitted it was 'maybe the best' of his career but thought Everton had made a mistake by pressing too hard for the third. [LNB] 'Goal of the Season': Pienaar scoops Everton back in front in audacious fashion[LNB]James Vaughan went clean through in a similar position after Denilson had lost possession, falling to the ground in pain holding his side. Vaughan went for power and Almunia saved well.[LNB]'We got a bit too excited,' said Pienaar. 'We knew we could get them on the counter and went for it a few times but we gave the ball away. [LNB]'They have players who will finish you if you give them that sort of space. They got it and they scored. We were lucky we didn't go 3-2 behind.'[LNB]The game was two minutes into added time when Rosicky salvaged a point with the help of another deflection, this one hitting Lucas Neill's leg and swerving over Howard. [LNB]Maybe it proved Arsenal did have some grit supplies left after all, but Moyes was encouraged despite the late blow.[LNB] Saviour: Rosicky earned a point for Arsenal with his first home goal for two years [LNB]'We are disappointed because we had a big chance and maybe missed that opportunity,'said the Everton manager. 'But I think we showed we aren't as far away from Arsenal as the points difference shows.[LNB]'Over the last few years, we've managed to finish somewhere around the top end and that's why I've being going around with a long face, being a bit miserable, because I don't think we should be where we are. [LNB]'Now I'm getting my players back and I do think we will be among them.'[LNB]For Wenger, consolation came from the fact that, after coming back from behind to win away at Liverpool and West Ham, his team had refused to accept defeat and are now within three points of Premier League leaders Chelsea having played the same amount of games.[LNB]'I would have signed up to be this close in the race at this stage,' said the Arsenal boss. 'But it shows that, as soon as you drop your level a little bit, you are in danger. That's what happened to us.'[LNB] Arsene Wenger tells injured Arsenal players to handballDancing on ice: Gunners beat big freeze but slip up in the title raceArsenal legend Dennis Bergkamp heaps praise on old boss WengerALL THE ARSENAL FC TEAM
