Arsenal FC

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Equaliser stuns Gunners

20 Oct 2009 - 21:55:11

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Arsenal conceded a last-gasp equaliser as they were held to a 1-1 draw away to AZ Alkmaar in Champions League Group H.

A Cesc Fabregas goal looked like being enough to secure victory for the visitors, only for David Mendes Da Silva to pop up to volley home in the third minute of added time.

Andrey Arshavin returned to the Gunners starting line-up in place of the injured Theo Walcott, while Bacary Sagna and Gael Clichy both returned in defence.

It took nine minutes for the first chance of the game to arrive, as Arshavin led an Arsenal counter. Abou Diaby's cross found Robin van Persie at the far post and keeper Sergio Romero was forced to make a fine save.

The home side then enjoyed the better of the possession, but were unable to forge any meaningful openings until just past the halfway point of the first half.

Mounir El Hamdaoui and Moussa Dembele created the opening and the former lashed a right-foot shot narrowly over from the edge of the area.

Soon after Arshavin curled a shot onto the roof of the net and nine minutes before the interval the Gunners hit the front.

Arshavin picked up a loose ball following an error from Niklas Moisander and fed van Persie, who rolled the ball across the area for skipper Fabregas to sidefoot home at the far post.

It was almost 2-0 right on half-time, as van Persie smashed in a left-footer from 30 yards which keeper Romero tried to punch clear, with his deflection sending the ball inches over the top of the crossbar.

Early in the second half van Persie fired in an excellent free-kick from 30 yards and Romero had to make a smart diving save.

The Gunners then continued to hold the upper hand, but were unable to add to their lead and gradually the home side began to force their way back into the game.

Twelve minutes from time AZ looked certain to draw level, when a long free-kick into the area fell to Hector Moreno, but he somehow guided the ball wide of target from six yards out.

That looked like being a costly miss by the Mexico defender, but deep into stoppage time another set-piece proved costly for the Gunners.

Substitute Graziano Pelle headed down and Mendes Da Silva arrived right on cue to lash home a right-foot volley past the stranded Vito Mannone.