Thomas Vermaelen scored at both ends as Arsenal had
to settle for a 1-1 draw with Fulham in their Premier
League clash at the Emirates Stadium.
Vermaelen's own goal gifted the visitors, who had not
won at Arsenal in 25 attempts, the lead on 65 minutes.
The Belgian redeemed himself when nodding in from close
range with seven minutes left, but the Gunners could
not conjure up a winner.
The hosts had dedicated the game to the Save the Children
charity, but there was no sense of generosity as Arsene
Wenger's men went in search of a sixth straight league
win to continue their resurgence.
Andrey Arshavin - one of two changes from the midweek
Champions League win over Borussia Dortmund - latched
onto a pass from Robin van Persie to slot home, only
to see the early celebrations cut short by an offside
flag.
Fulham goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer then palmed away a
close-range effort from Aaron Ramsey after another sweeping
Arsenal attack.
Fulham did pose some threat on the counter, but Arsenal
were soon back on the offensive as Theo Walcott scampered
away down the left before seeing his shot blocked by
a wall of white shirts on the edge of the Fulham box.
On 20 minutes, Bobby Zamora turned Vermaelen just outside
the area and drove an angled shot over the crossbar.
Walcott then skipped away again, leaving John Arne
Riise trailing in his wake before pulling the ball back
to the penalty spot where Ramsey crashed it high into
the Clock End.
England winger Walcott was Arsenal's main outlet, this
time shooting from the angle with Schwarzer saving at
his near post.
Another determined run from Walcott forced a corner
before his chip to the far post was nodded back by van
Persie and Arshavin was stretching as he hooked the
loose ball wide.
Despite all their possession, Arsenal were unable to
break down a solid rearguard from the visitors, and
Gunners goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny had to beat away
a fierce drive from Mousa Dembele.
Ramsey was close to connecting with Walcott's cross
from the right as again Arsenal threatened with half-time
looming.
Fulham midfielder Dickson Etuhu was then shown a yellow
card for clattering Mikel Arteta and Per Mertesacker's
backward header from the free-kick flew just wide.
At the start of the second half Walcott continued to
stretch the Fulham defence, as his low cross caused
momentary confusion between former Gunner Philippe Senderos
and Schwarzer before the loose ball was eventually hacked
clear.
Arsenal captain van Persie had been in brilliant goalscoring
form, but after battling to create space in the box
and slot past Schwarzer he saw his effort hacked off
the line by Chris Baird.
Fulham continued to defend resolutely and snatched
the lead on 65 minutes through an unfortunate own goal
from Vermaelen.
Arteta thought he had been fouled, but play continued
and Danny Murphy chipped the ball into the box.
Riise collected the pass on his chest, but the ball
then bounced on the penalty spot before being scuffed
back past Szczesny into the far corner by the retreating
Vermaelen.
Zamora then quickly fired home again, only to be flagged
marginally offside.
Arsenal had to step things up and were denied an equaliser
when Schwarzer - once a target for the Gunners - clawed
away a goalbound header from Johan Djourou after a corner.
The home side continued to press and were finally level
when Vermaelen redeemed himself with a close-range downwards
header on 83 minutes after Walcott's cross from the
right.
Both Gervinho and then Walcott should have produced
better finishes when weaving into the box instead of
shooting tamely at the keeper.
Van Persie hit the sidenetting when through down the
right, and despite all of their late pressure, the Gunners
had to make do with just a point. |
