Arsenal ensured their unbeaten record at the Emirates Stadium remainedintact - but had to again settle for a draw after coming from 2-0 down against Portsmouth.
With Liverpool leapfrogging both these teams into third place in the Barclays Premiership earlier this afternoon, the pressure was on.However,after Robin van Persie saw two close-range efforts saved by David James, the Gunners again found themselves chasing the game when Noe Pamarot headed Pompey in front during first-half stoppage time. A stunning effort from Matthew Taylor a minute after the restart put the visitors in total control.However, Togo striker Emmanuel Adebayor was brought off the bench just before the hour and had soon pulled a goal back - before Gilberto equalised as the Gunners struck twice quickly themselves.Despite plenty of pressure during the closing stages, it was another afternoon of frustration for the home side and their manager Arsene Wenger.Arsenal started brightly and almost snatched an early lead.Following good work from Alexander Hleb down the right, Emmanuel Eboue's centre picked out van Persie in the six-yard box.The Dutchman's downwards header looked to be going in - only for a wrong-footed James to stick out a boot and make a brilliant reactionsave. The Gunners continued to press, but failed to find a telling pass around the Pompey penalty area.Arsenal were dominating, with Theo Walcott - who replaced injured Freddie Ljungberg on seven minutes - proving a handful.The England teenager dashed into the right side of the area before drilling a low ball across goal, which James deflected clear.On 23 minutes, the Pompey keeper pulled off a fine double save.First the former England man beat away Cesc Fabregas' low 25-yard drive, and then got up quickly to block Van Persie's follow-up at the far post.As the half-hour mark passed, Pompey finally enjoyed a decent spell of possession.However, the visitors failed to make the most of some promising build-up and several corners.As the first half drew to a close, neither team were able to keep possession for any decent spell.Then, in stoppage time, the visitors took the lead.A deep free-kick from the left from Matthew Taylor was flicked on by David Thompson.The ball came back off the inside of the post and Pamarot was on hand to head into an empty net.It did not best please Wenger, who had words with the match officials at half-time, just days after he was fined by the Football Association for his touchline bust-up with former West Ham boss Alan Pardew.No sooner had the Gunners coach sent his side out for the second half, than they were 2-0 down.The Arsenal defence failed to clear their lines - and the loose ball dropped to Taylor on the edge of the penalty area.The midfielder, who scored a stunner against Everton last week, sent an exquisite left-foot strike back over Jens Lehmann and into the far corner.The home side immediately upped the tempo in an attempt to get back into the match.With talisman captain Thierry Henry watching from the stands because of a hamstring problem, any inspiration would have to come from another source.And with 35 minutes left, Arsenal turned to Adebayor - who had netted the winner at Wigan in midweek - with the big Togo striker replacing Jeremie Aliadiere.It was not long before that turned out to be an inspired substitution.Walcott got away down the right to send over a teasing low cross.Adebayor timed his run to perfection, arriving on queue at the penalty spot to lash the ball first-time past James on 58 minutes.Before Pompey had time to regroup, it was 2-2.Centre-back Kolo Toure charged forwards to unleash a stinging 25-yard drive, which James could only parry.Adebayor was first to the rebound, and cut the ball back across goal.It was only partially cleared, which allowed Walcott to tee-up skipper Gilberto and he drove the loose ball low into the bottom left corner from close range.Those two goals in as many minutes had turned the match on its head, with the Gunners faithful now in full voice - and the Pompey chimes silenced.Arsenal continued to look dangerous - and van Persie could have won it when he waltzed through the Portsmouth defence, only to stab a left-foot shot inches wide.
Arsene protests innocence
Arsene Wenger put on a brave face following another frustrating draw at the
Emirates Stadium against Portsmouth - during which the Arsenal manager was sent
to the stands by referee Steve Bennett for his protests at the interval.
The Gunners again found themselves chasing the game when Noe Pamarot headed
Pompey in front during first-half stoppage time.
A stunning effort from Matthew Taylor a minute after the restart put the
visitors in total control.
But Togo striker Emmanuel Adebayor was brought off the bench just before the
hour and had soon pulled a goal back - before Gilberto equalised as the Gunners
struck twice in quick succession.
Despite plenty of pressure during the closing stages, the match ended all
square, with Wenger having to give his instructions to the technical area from a
few rows behind the bench.
The Arsenal boss said: 'It was because I complained for the free-kick just
before half-time.
'I said that it was not a free-kick. I think it was a foul on (Gael) Clichy.
'I cannot say too much more about that.
'It did not disturb me too much.'
Earlier this week Wenger was fined £10,000 by the Football Association for his
touchline bust-up with former West Ham boss Alan Pardew, and warned as to his
future conduct.
Wenger continued: 'I do not know if I am brave or not.
'I am not a guy who worries too much.'
The Arsenal boss quipped: 'What do you want me to go to jail?'
Wenger admitted his side had been slow to start this afternoon, although they
did create the better chances in the first half with Robin van Persie twice
denied by Pompey keeper David James.
Wenger said: 'We had some disappointing draws here at the start of the season
- but I cannot say that today because there was lots of quality and character in
the team today.
'For me, the team is taking off.
'We did not find our flow in the first half, but then we have shown a great
character and created chance after chance.
'Of course, with the number of points we have already dropped it is more
difficult to take, but I cannot complain about the way we played.'
Wenger feels midfielder Freddie Ljungberg will miss the whole of the hectic
festive season because of a hamstring injury, and revealed Adebayor was carrying
a calf problem which will keep him out of next week's Carling Cup quarter-final
against Liverpool - whose win at Charlton today lifted them up into third place
in the Barclays Premiership.
Pompey boss Harry Redknapp felt if his side could have held out for a while
longer, they may well have gone on to record a convincing win.
He said: 'We got two up and were in good shape. We had control of the game at
that stage.
'The crowd were getting frustrated and I just felt we needed to hang in there
for another five or 10 minutes and we would have been okay.
'The fans had been moaning and that was getting through to the players
because they could not string two passes together.
'The goal coming when it did gave them a big lift.
Redknapp added: 'But to come here and get a draw is a great point.
'When we went to Arsenal last year it was probably with the worst team I have
ever had in my life - we were 4-0 down at half-time and it could have been 10.
So it has been a bit of a turn around since then, thank God.'
The Pompey manager, meanwhile, revealed Portuguese midfielder Manuel Fernandes
had been 'feeling rough' - but was not selected because of the terms of the
package which brought him to Fratton Park, with a third successive start set to
trigger an automatic £12million purchase clause.
Redknapp said: 'I did not do the deal which brought him here.
'The problem for me is that the fee is £12million - and I do not want to pay
£12million.
'He was here today but genuinely did not feel well today.
'But I would not have played him anyway.
'It was not my idea, I just sort of inherited it.
'He is a young kid with good potential and I told him if the fee was right, I
would buy him - but I would not put my name to £12million.'
Direct Downloads for Goals:
Adebayor 1-2:
http://www.zshare.net/video/asn-por-2-a
Gilberto 2-2:
http://www.pimpmyupload.com/445783
credit : Gregor
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