Late Gallas strike rescues Arsenal
LONDON, England — William Gallas scored in the second minute of time added on to earn Arsenal a dramatic 2-2 at home to Manchester United — a result that keeps the Gunners top of the Premier League.
Cristiano Ronaldo appeared to have secured a ninth straight league win for United with eight minutes left, but there was still time for Gallas to have the final say when he bundled home from close range to maintain Arsenal’s unbeaten record this season.
The eagerly-awaited clash between English football’s top two teams did not disappoint in front of a packed house at the Emirates Stadium.
Both teams had chances to score early on. Ryan Giggs had an opportunity at the back post from Ronaldo’s cross, but stabbed his effort wide, while Gallas met Cesc Fabregas’ sublime free-kick with a firm downward header, but United goalkeeper Edwin Van der Sar was up to the task.
However, United snatched the lead on the stroke of half-time. Wes Brown looked to have bundled Alexander Hleb off the ball before he slipped in Ronaldo down the right.
His low cross was met by Wayne Rooney at the near post, whose scuffed shot deflected up off the diving Gallas and past Manuel Almunia in the Arsenal goal.
Arsenal’s response was immediate, drawing level just three minutes into the second half.
Emmanuel Eboue floated the ball over from the right into the penalty area, where Emmanuel Adebayor had timed his run perfectly.
Van der Sar was out quickly to block the Togo striker’s volleyed effort. However, the loose ball broke to Bacary Sagna, who squared it back for Fabregas to calmly drill home his 11th goal of the season.
Although Arsenal enjoyed more of the possession, United always looked dangerous on the counter-attack.
A fine interchange between Rooney and Giggs set up the England forward with a free header 12 meters out, but for once he was well off target.
Then, down the other end, Eboue weaved his way into the United penalty area and fed Hleb, who made space before ballooning his effort wide.
United went back in front when substitute Louis Saha fed Patrice Evra, who skipped into the right side of the area, drew Almunia, and cut the ball back for Ronaldo — who could not miss with the goal at his mercy.
Arsenal pressed for an equaliser, which almost came when Evra spooned the ball onto his own crossbar.
Just when it looked like United were going to take a valuable three points back to Old Trafford, and go top of the table in the process, Arsenal forced in a dramatic stoppage goal when Gallas struck at the far post — the ball having been palmed away by van der Sar from behind the line.
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger was keen to emphasize the character of his side, whose play was less fluent than in earlier games this season.
We had our character tested twice and we came back against a very good Manchester United side, Wenger said.
But I think it is easy to have the wrong impression of the match. They looked always like they could take advantage of any mistake we could make but if you look at the number of chances, they didn’t create a lot, so overall I think a draw is a fair result.
I don’t feel that sharpness-wise we were at our best but character-wise to come back again, it is something special. I feel there is a resilience and character there that is hidden by the fact that it is a team that has such easy technique.
United chief Sir Alex Ferguson said he had been convinced his side had done enough to win when Cristiano Ronaldo rounded off a sweeping move to put them 2-1 up with eight minutes left.
Ferguson said: We played some good football. It was a great piece of football between Louis Saha and Patric Evra, and a great pass for Ronaldo.
Arsenal had some good possession, but I think we had the better chances during the game.
We were controlling the game, but one cross took a faint touch across the face, was sent back in from the back post, and it was over the line.
I thought we had done it, but this is football. I can’t believe it. We have thrown it away.
Ferguson was equally disappointed at the way United allowed Cesc Fabregas to score two minutes after half-time, cancelling out the Gallas own goal that had given United the lead just before the interval.
It was a lack of concentration, particularly for their first goal, Ferguson added. We should have cleared it towards the corner flag, but didn’t.
Then in the second, the ball took a faint touch and went across the face of goal, was sent back in at the back post, and then was over the line. We lost our bearings. E-mail to a friend
