West Ham 2-2 Arsenal
Carlton Cole inspired his side to an impressive point against Arsenal.
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By Tom Powell. |  |
Sunday, 25, Oct 2009 07:15
By Darren Plant.
West Ham came back from two goals behind to secure a 2-2 draw with Arsenal at Upton Park.
Goals from Robin van Persie and William Gallas had given Arsenal a two-goal half-time lead, but Alessandra Diamanti and Carlton struck in the final 18 minutes to give the Hammers a deserved point.
Arsenal looked the stronger of the two sides from the start and created their first opportunity in the first minute when Alex Song lofted a ball through to Van Persie, but he failed to connect properly with his header.
Van Persie was in the action again two minutes later when he surged down the left wing, and tested West Ham keeper Robert Green with a fierce drive at the near post.
Arsenal took the lead just after the quarter hour mark, and it was indeed Van Persie who got the goal at the third time of asking. Sagna's right-wing cross looked to be heading straight to Green, but he collided with James Tomkins and the Ditch international finished into an empty net.
West Ham were attempting to get back into the match, but for all their approach play, they lacked a final killer ball, with only a deflected cross from Mark Noble troubling the Arsenal goal.
Van Persie came close to adding a second on 26 minutes, but his glancing header from Andrei Arshavin's cross just evaded the far post.
Arsenal did make it two ten minutes later, with Van Persie turning the provider. He delivered a corner from the right-hand side, and William Gallas towered above the West Ham defence to head in, despite the effort of Scott Parker on the goal line.
Emmanuel Eboue came close to sealing the points for Arsenal in first-half injury time, but his low shot from just outside the penalty area was kept out by Green.
Gianfranco Zola introduced Diamanti just before the hour mark and he gave his side more urgency, with two long range efforts in quick succession.
On 62 minutes, Cesc Fabregas tried his luck form 30 yards but his shot went agonisingly wide.
The visitors came close again ten minutes later when Fabregas teed up Arshavin, but his 20-yard curling effort was parried away by Green.
A minute later, the Hammers pulled a goal back. Diamanti's free kick was well kept out by Vito Mannone but Cole responded quickest to head in the rebound.
The goal galvanised West Ham and they equalised six minutes later from the penalty spot. Song was adjudged to have clipped Cole's heels and Diamanti converted the kick leaving Mannone with no chance.
West Ham's Scott Parker was harshly sent off with six minutes to go for two yellow cards; with the second caution coming after he appeared to have won the ball.
That gave Arsenal the momentum and they very nearly won it in injury time when Sagna crossed for Van Persie, but his header was somehow kept out by Green from point blank range.