carlyluvsunited
03-11-2007, 05:22 PM
Gallas Late Show Rescues Gunners
Arsenal 2 (Fabregas 48, Gallas 90)
Manchester United 2 (Gallas Og 45, Ronaldo 82)
Arsenal grabbed a dramatic stoppage-time equaliser to deny Manchester United
the chance to go back to the top of the Barclays Premier League with a 2-2 draw
at Emirates Stadium.
An own-goal from William Gallas in first-half stoppage time had put the champions
in front.
Arsenal equalised through Cesc Fabregas on 48 minutes, only for Cristiano
Ronaldo to seemingly 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.
Following the midweek Carling Cup victory over Sheffield United with a youthful
team, Arsenal manager Wenger recalled the same XI which drew 1-1 at Liverpool
last week.
Manuel Almunia was once again preferred in goal to Jens Lehmann, with Togo
striker Emmanuel Adebayor up front.
United, second only by virtue of goals scored, made two changes from the side
which beat Middlesbrough 4-1 in their previous outing.
Patrice Evra came in at full-back, with captain Ryan Giggs starting in midfield.
Wayne Rooney and Carlos Tevez led the visitors attack.
England midfielder Michael Carrick and striker Louis Saha made their return from
injury as substitutes.
Despite the early kick-off, the atmosphere inside 60,000-seater Emirates Stadium
was electric.
It was a bright start to the much-anticipated match, with some slick passing on
display from Wenger's men and little quarter given by United in the tackle.
Bacary Sagna was put in on the overlap down the Arsenal right, with his low
centre hacked away by Evra.
After eight minutes, Cristiano Ronaldo saw his downward header come back off
the post following a left-wing corner, but eagle-eyed referee Howard Webb had
spotted a push by the United midfielder on marker Tomas Rosicky.
At the other end, Adebayor timed his jump all wrong to put a cross from Gael
Clichy over the bar.
Cesc Fabregas was penalised for going through the back of Anderson, as the
match showed little sign of a drop in tempo as the quarter-hour mark
approached.
The yellow card was out on 16 minutes when Evra tripped Adebayor on the
nearside touchline.
From the free-kick, United broke quickly through Ronaldo down the right.
Giggs should have done better when arriving at the far post to meet the eventual
low cross, but could only stab the ball wide from a yard out.
Sir Alex Ferguson was out of his dug-out when a decision went against Evra, for
kicking into the back of Eboue, and was quick to give attending fourth official Alan
Wiley a piece of his mind as well as the referee.
In the 23rd minute, Giggs tried his luck from just outside the area, but the ball
was always rising over the bar.
Owen Hargreaves was the second United man into the referee's book when he
clattered into Alexander Hleb on the halfway line.
Despite Arsenal having plenty of possession, the home side had not yet tested
Edwin van der Sar after 30 minutes' play.
Hleb's run down the right on the counter-attack was checked by Anderson, some
six yards from the edge of the area.
Fabregas whipped the resulting free-kick into the six-yard box, where skipper
William Gallas met it with a bullet header only to be denied by the legs of the
United goalkeeper.
The Spaniard was then, after 40 minutes, cautioned for a foul on Anderson before
United snatched the lead in stoppage time.
Wes Brown looked to have bundled Hleb off the ball before he slipped in Ronaldo
down the right.
The low centre was met by Rooney at the near post and his shot flicked up off the
diving Gallas and past Almunia into the net.
Arsenal's response was immediate as they drew level just three minutes into the
second half.
Eboue floated the ball over from the right and into the penalty area, where
Adebayor had timed his run perfectly.
Van der Sar was out quickly to block the Togo striker's volleyed effort but the
loose ball broke to Sagna, who squared it back to Fabregas.
Ferdinand was back on the line but Fabregas picked his spot and found the
bottom corner from 12 yards.
United were clearly shocked by the equaliser and the Gunners were soon back on
the offensive with a sustained period of pressure.
On 57 minutes Anderson and Hargreaves bundled over Hleb just outside the
United penalty area.
Fabregas cleverly sent a low shot under the jumping wall, but van der Sar was
across to make a comfortable save.
Slowly, the champions began to find their own rhythm again. A fine interchange
between Rooney and Giggs set up the England forward with a free header 12
yards out, but for once he was well off target.
Following a quick counter-attack, Eboue weaved his way into the United penalty
area and fed Hleb, who made space before ballooning an effort horribly wide.
Rosicky then flashed an effort wide from 20 yards as Arsenal looked to take the
lead for the first time.
Arsenal sent on Theo Walcott for Eboue with 16 minutes left. Tevez was replaced
by Saha and Carrick came on for Anderson.
Eduardo - who scored a brace at Bramall Lane on Wednesday night - was
introduced with 10 minutes left, for Rosicky, and Gilberto replaced Flamini.
United went back in front when Saha fed Evra, who skipped into the right side of
the box, drew Almunia and cut the ball back for Ronaldo - who could not miss.
Arsenal pressed for an equaliser, which almost came when Evra miskicked and
the ball spun onto his own bar.
Just when it looked as though United were set to take the spoils, Arsenal claimed
a dramatic stoppage time goal when Gallas struck at the far post. Van der Sar
clawed the ball away but it was already beyond the line and the Gunners were
level.
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Arsenal 2 (Fabregas 48, Gallas 90)
Manchester United 2 (Gallas Og 45, Ronaldo 82)
Arsenal grabbed a dramatic stoppage-time equaliser to deny Manchester United
the chance to go back to the top of the Barclays Premier League with a 2-2 draw
at Emirates Stadium.
An own-goal from William Gallas in first-half stoppage time had put the champions
in front.
Arsenal equalised through Cesc Fabregas on 48 minutes, only for Cristiano
Ronaldo to seemingly 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.
Following the midweek Carling Cup victory over Sheffield United with a youthful
team, Arsenal manager Wenger recalled the same XI which drew 1-1 at Liverpool
last week.
Manuel Almunia was once again preferred in goal to Jens Lehmann, with Togo
striker Emmanuel Adebayor up front.
United, second only by virtue of goals scored, made two changes from the side
which beat Middlesbrough 4-1 in their previous outing.
Patrice Evra came in at full-back, with captain Ryan Giggs starting in midfield.
Wayne Rooney and Carlos Tevez led the visitors attack.
England midfielder Michael Carrick and striker Louis Saha made their return from
injury as substitutes.
Despite the early kick-off, the atmosphere inside 60,000-seater Emirates Stadium
was electric.
It was a bright start to the much-anticipated match, with some slick passing on
display from Wenger's men and little quarter given by United in the tackle.
Bacary Sagna was put in on the overlap down the Arsenal right, with his low
centre hacked away by Evra.
After eight minutes, Cristiano Ronaldo saw his downward header come back off
the post following a left-wing corner, but eagle-eyed referee Howard Webb had
spotted a push by the United midfielder on marker Tomas Rosicky.
At the other end, Adebayor timed his jump all wrong to put a cross from Gael
Clichy over the bar.
Cesc Fabregas was penalised for going through the back of Anderson, as the
match showed little sign of a drop in tempo as the quarter-hour mark
approached.
The yellow card was out on 16 minutes when Evra tripped Adebayor on the
nearside touchline.
From the free-kick, United broke quickly through Ronaldo down the right.
Giggs should have done better when arriving at the far post to meet the eventual
low cross, but could only stab the ball wide from a yard out.
Sir Alex Ferguson was out of his dug-out when a decision went against Evra, for
kicking into the back of Eboue, and was quick to give attending fourth official Alan
Wiley a piece of his mind as well as the referee.
In the 23rd minute, Giggs tried his luck from just outside the area, but the ball
was always rising over the bar.
Owen Hargreaves was the second United man into the referee's book when he
clattered into Alexander Hleb on the halfway line.
Despite Arsenal having plenty of possession, the home side had not yet tested
Edwin van der Sar after 30 minutes' play.
Hleb's run down the right on the counter-attack was checked by Anderson, some
six yards from the edge of the area.
Fabregas whipped the resulting free-kick into the six-yard box, where skipper
William Gallas met it with a bullet header only to be denied by the legs of the
United goalkeeper.
The Spaniard was then, after 40 minutes, cautioned for a foul on Anderson before
United snatched the lead in stoppage time.
Wes Brown looked to have bundled Hleb off the ball before he slipped in Ronaldo
down the right.
The low centre was met by Rooney at the near post and his shot flicked up off the
diving Gallas and past Almunia into the net.
Arsenal's response was immediate as they drew level just three minutes into the
second half.
Eboue floated the ball over from the right and into the penalty area, where
Adebayor had timed his run perfectly.
Van der Sar was out quickly to block the Togo striker's volleyed effort but the
loose ball broke to Sagna, who squared it back to Fabregas.
Ferdinand was back on the line but Fabregas picked his spot and found the
bottom corner from 12 yards.
United were clearly shocked by the equaliser and the Gunners were soon back on
the offensive with a sustained period of pressure.
On 57 minutes Anderson and Hargreaves bundled over Hleb just outside the
United penalty area.
Fabregas cleverly sent a low shot under the jumping wall, but van der Sar was
across to make a comfortable save.
Slowly, the champions began to find their own rhythm again. A fine interchange
between Rooney and Giggs set up the England forward with a free header 12
yards out, but for once he was well off target.
Following a quick counter-attack, Eboue weaved his way into the United penalty
area and fed Hleb, who made space before ballooning an effort horribly wide.
Rosicky then flashed an effort wide from 20 yards as Arsenal looked to take the
lead for the first time.
Arsenal sent on Theo Walcott for Eboue with 16 minutes left. Tevez was replaced
by Saha and Carrick came on for Anderson.
Eduardo - who scored a brace at Bramall Lane on Wednesday night - was
introduced with 10 minutes left, for Rosicky, and Gilberto replaced Flamini.
United went back in front when Saha fed Evra, who skipped into the right side of
the box, drew Almunia and cut the ball back for Ronaldo - who could not miss.
Arsenal pressed for an equaliser, which almost came when Evra miskicked and
the ball spun onto his own bar.
Just when it looked as though United were set to take the spoils, Arsenal claimed
a dramatic stoppage time goal when Gallas struck at the far post. Van der Sar
clawed the ball away but it was already beyond the line and the Gunners were
level.
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United !!!
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