ARSENAL HANGS ON BY THE TEETH

Theo Walcott scored Arsenal first goal in the 18th min

ARSENAL clung on to claim a point against Schalke in the Champions League at Veltins Arena, despite being 2-0 up after 26 minutes, Schalke came back to grab a vital point at home. Arsene Wenger repaid Theo Walcott's recent good form with a start tonight, and it appears to have paid off when Walcott put the Gunners ahead in 18th min, nipping in to tap into an empty net, before Olivier Giroud grabbed his first ever Champions League goal with a well-executed diving header from Lukas Podolski's cross six minutes later.

Both Gunners goals came against the run of play, so it was perhaps unsurprising that Schalke pulled a goal back just before half time, with the in-form Klaas-Jan Huntelaar finishing clinically.Into the second period, Schalke continued to put Arsenal back pedalling, and found themselves level when Jefferson Farfan scored with a shot from the right - via a deflection off Gunners skipper Thomas Vermaelen. Both sides had chances to win it - Walcott for Arsenal, Huntelaar for Schalke - but neither were able to get their noses ahead.

Giroud's first Champions League goal

Theo Walcott could have put his name in the head-line when he wasted a great chance to produce a textbook smash-and-grab for Arsenal in injury time. The winger is played through down the middle but just can't get the ball out of his feet properly, and his weak shot is palmed away by Lars Unnerstall.

The Bundesliga's side remain at the top of the group with 9 pts, Arsenal second 8pts with the Greek's side Olympiacos 7pts closing in. Arsenal must win their next home match to ensure their passage into the quarterfinals against bottom-place Montpellier.