SUPER-VAN PERSIE RESCUE ARSENAL AGAINST WEST BROM

ARSENAL'S title challenge suffered a blow as their late rally was only enough to secure a 2-2 draw at West Bromwich Albion. 


The Baggies were 2-0 up just before the hour mark when Peter Odemwingie capitalised on of another Arsenal howler - a mix up between Manuel Almunia and Sebastien Squilacci.

The Gunners staged a comeback with goals in the 70th minute from Andrev Arshavin and 78th from Robin Van Persie but could not find a winner.

Arsene Wenger's side were in need of a lift following their Carling Cup final defeat and elimination from the Champions League and FA cUp over the last few weeks. But they made the worst possible start as West Brom took the lead after only three minutes. Albion skipper Chris Brunt swung in a corner and Reid was allowed the space to crash in header past Almunia.

Moments later Jerome Thomas won the ball and broke forward sending in a dangerous delivery that just evaded Odemwinge. The visitors started to gain more possession but were struggling to get a proper foothold and the match was temporarily halted after 20 minutes when Laurent koscielny clashed heads with James Morrison, the latter having to come off for treatment.

While Morrison was off the pitch Arsenal showed some threatening signs with only the head of Jonas Olsonn preventing Ramsey getting on the end of a Gael Clichy cross. Arsenal should have then equalised when Van Persie's header came back off the bar. The ball dropped to Ramsey right in front of goal but the Wales midfielder could only strike it straight at Scott Carson.

As Morrison returned with a bandage around his head the Gunners continued to press, Samir Nasri seeing a cross come off the legs of Abdoulaye Meite towards goal but Carson was able to avert the danger. Van Persie tried his luck just before the break but his shot was off target.


There was a substitution for each side at half-time as Albiom manager Roy Hodgson brought on Marek Cech for Paul Scharner who had also taken a knock to the head and Wenger introuduced Maroune Chamakh in place of Denilson in an attempt to give his side more attacking impetus.


Chamakh soon sent a header goalwards but it did not trouble Carson and within minutes the Baggies were almost 2-0 in front as Brunt slid in to meet Cech's cross the captain just poking it the wrong side of the post.


Wenger bolstered his forward line again with Nicklas Bendtner coming on for Ramsey but just seconds later West brom did score again - thanks in no small part to Almunia howler. The Spanish goalkeeper came charging out of his box when Youssouf Mulumbu launched a long ball forward but completely misjudged it before getting in a tangle with Squillaci and Odemwingie gleefully slotted into the net.


When Koncileny picked up a booking for a hefty challenge on Odemwingie and Van Persie blazed a free-kick over the bar the Gunners seemed to be fading but a slick move saw them suddenly pull a goal back through Arshavin whom played a one-two with Chamakh before turning and rifling a shot beyond Carson.


Marc-Antione Fortune came on for Odemwingie but Arsenal began pouring forward and eight minutes after Arshavin's strike they found a leveller with the Russian again the catalyst. His looping cross hit the crossbar and looks like to have strike Nicklas Bendtner arms at the far post But Meite was unable to deal with the rebound before Van Persie bundled it over the line.


Arsenal now looked the more likley winners but Fortune went close at the other end cutting into the box and seeing his shot deflect wide. Play switched once more and the Gunners sent a succession of balls into the West Brom box but there was no way through. Jack Wilshere shot over the bar and Carson saved from Clichy at the death as Albion hung on for a vital point.