Mark Schwarzer saved Mikel Arteta’s last-gasp penalty to deny Arsenal victory in a crazy game at Emirates Stadium on Saturday.The Fulham keeper dived to his left to deny the Spaniard after Sascha Riether had handled a cross from substitute Andrey Arshavin deep into injury-time. In fact it was so deep that the whistle blew before the teams could kick-off again.
It was a disappointing end to a thrilling game. The home side went 2-0 up in the first half-hour through Olivier Giroud and Lukas Podolski but they were pegged back by half-time goals from Dimitar Berbatov and Alex Kacaniklic.
Fulham’s Bulgarian striker scored from the penalty spot midway through the second half but Giroud’s second header restored parity almost immediately.It was a disappointing end to a thrilling game. The home side went 2-0 up in the first half-hour through Olivier Giroud and Lukas Podolski but they were pegged back by half-time goals from Dimitar Berbatov and Alex Kacaniklic.
Fulham’s Bulgarian striker scored from the penalty spot midway through the second half but Giroud’s second header restored parity almost immediately.
Arsenal stormed forward in the final stages and the excellent Giroud
twice tested Schwarzer. However Fulham’s clever counters showed why they
have been one of the Premier League’s most admired sides this season.
Their fans would argue they deserved the draw this afternoon.However, given the first 23 minutes and the last 10 seconds, Arsenal fans will know they could have got more.
Wenger’s side showed just the one change from the midweek draw at Schalke – but it was a significant one. Francis Coquelin replaced the suspended Jack Wilshere in midfield.
Fulham arrived here with justifiable confidence. They had been scoring freely in the first ten games of the Premier League season and were nestled just behind Arsenal in the table.
It was Remembrance Weekend and the Arsenal players were in shirts emblazoned with a poignant poppy. They will be auctioned on Arsenal.com next week. In addition, a minute’s silence was respectfully observed just before kick-off this afternoon.
To date, Wenger’s men had been slow starters and, at times, it had caught them out. The first half would go against the norm.
Once again, it was the opponents who started brightly and, on another day, a deflected shot from Bryan Ruiz might have drifted home in the opening seconds, rather than going just wide.
However, on this occasion, Arsenal’s response would be emphatic.
Giroud timed his run and his header perfectly to score from Theo Walcott’s corner in 11th minute. It was the Frenchman’s fifth goal of the season and his team’s first in the opening 30 minutes of a Premier League match.
Arsenal stormed forward in the final stages and the excellent Giroud twice tested Schwarzer. However Fulham’s clever counters showed why they have been one of the Premier League’s most admired sides this season. Their fans would argue they deserved the draw this afternoon.
However, given the first 23 minutes and the last 10 seconds, Arsenal fans will know they could have got more.
Wenger’s side showed just the one change from the midweek draw at Schalke – but it was a significant one. Francis Coquelin replaced the suspended Jack Wilshere in midfield.
Fulham arrived here with justifiable confidence. They had been scoring freely in the first ten games of the Premier League season and were nestled just behind Arsenal in the table.
It was Remembrance Weekend and the Arsenal players were in shirts emblazoned with a poignant poppy. They will be auctioned on Arsenal.com next week. In addition, a minute’s silence was respectfully observed just before kick-off this afternoon.
To date, Wenger’s men had been slow starters and, at times, it had caught them out. The first half would go against the norm.
Once again, it was the opponents who started brightly and, on another day, a deflected shot from Bryan Ruiz might have drifted home in the opening seconds, rather than going just wide.
However, on this occasion, Arsenal’s response would be emphatic.
Giroud timed his run and his header perfectly to score from Theo Walcott’s corner in 11th minute. It was the Frenchman’s fifth goal of the season and his team’s first in the opening 30 minutes of a Premier League match.
akishangilia baada ya kufunga
Berbatov scored Fulham's first (above) and third (below) goals
Berbatov scored Fulham's first (above) and third (below) goals
'You cannot blame Arteta for that. It is part of the game. Who hasn't missed a penalty?" the Arsenal boss said.
Kacaniklic's strike brought Fulham level at the Emirates 
Arsenal looked to be out of sight after Podolski's strike on 23 minutes
'We played some fantastic stuff,' he said. 'Before the game we said we would try to dominate them which is hard here, but we managed that.
'I can't remember being 2-0 down - especially here - then being 3-2 ahead and we could have scored two or three goals after that.
'I really thought this could be the first time ever to beat them away, but in the end it was not to be.
Making a point: Giroud's header salvaged something from the game for the Gunners
Late drama: Arteta is disconsolate (below) after Schwarzer saved his penalty (above)
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