Premier League - Fabregas saves Arsenal

Eurosport - Sun, 05 Oct 09:55:00 2008

An injury-time header from Cesc Fabregas earned Arsenal a 1-1 draw with Sunderland at the Stadium of Light.

FOOTBALL Cesc Fabregas, Arsenal - 0

Substitute Grant Leadbitter's stunning 86th minute strike had given the hosts the lead but the Spanish midfielder nipped in, three minutes into stoppage time, to nod home Robin Van Persie's corner.

A third League defeat of the season would have been tough on the Gunners who had a seemingly legitimate goal disallowed in the second-half when the assistant referee adjudged that Theo Walcott had taken the ball out of play before pulling it back for Van Persie to tap home.

Sunderland keeper Craig Gordon was at fault for the equaliser as he flapped badly at the set-piece but had earlier made a superb save from Van Persie.

Sub Nicklas Bendtner chipped through to the Dutchman but his well struck volley from ten yards was superbly saved by Gordon's outstretched left hand.

Just four minutes later Leadbitter sent the home crowd into raptures with a superb goal, just two minutes after coming on.

He wrestled possession from Alexandre Song and then unleashed a swerving shot that beat Manuel Almunia and went in off the underside of the crossbar.

Almunia made a fine early save when Walcott's woefully short backpass gave Djibril Cisse a sight of goal but the Spanish custodian came off his line quickly to smother the shot.

Almunia was called into action again to tip Cisse's 25-yard stinging diagonal drive over the crossbar as Sunderland started brightly with only a superb tackle by Kolo Toure preventing Dean Whitehead from reaching an astute pass by Steed Malbranque.

Arsenal improved as the half went on and Fabregas' long-range drive was well held by Gordon and the Scottish keeper also clawed away Walcott's fierce centre across the six-yard box.

Walcott and Denilson also screwed 25-yard shots wide of the far post while Andy Reid was unable to capitalise after finding space at the back post with Cisse's cross just a little too high for the Irish midfielder to control first time.

After the controversially disallowed goal on 56 minutes, Arsenal continued to press and Emmanuel Adebayor's volley was fumbled by Gordon only for Anton Ferdinand to clear before Kieran Richardson stung Almunia's palms with a 30-yard drive.

But a game that saw six yellow cards only exploded in the final stages with Fabregas' first goal of the season saving his team from a second League defeat in a week.

Lee Walker / Eurosport

Comment 93 - 112 of 112

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  1. No Arsenal may end with nothing this around.

    From agbaranla_jireh05, on Mon 6 Oct 3:32PM

  2. Arsenal will surely be struggling, like last season when they from 1st dropped to 3rd.

    From hongkai14, on Mon 6 Oct 2:22PM

  3. C'mon you lot! you should admit and see that Our Boys played a good game, Fiar enough, i agree that there shouldn't be any more passing going on in the box when there is enough defenders available to spoon it out!
    we need long range and accurate shots towards goal!, i believe you all saw that coming from Walcott, Van persie and a few others...........
    My Biggest worry is.. why Adebayor gets paid that much and can't put chances my six year son can put away? he's absolutely outrageous, what is he on about getting a good partnership with V,P? Gosh mate, i saw nothing, absolutely nothing, i think he needs to sit on the bench a little... Do y'all Agree?

    From jalo, on Sun 5 Oct 6:33PM

  4. just a luck

    From syizwan21, on Sun 5 Oct 12:42PM

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    From go to www.premiership.altervista.org, on Sun 5 Oct 11:54AM

  6. hahahahahaha glynisperfect CRITICISING spelling and cant spell herself. At least try to spell big words correctly you're giving Arsenal a bad name. Heh heh

    From anthony.burrill2, on Sun 5 Oct 11:25AM

  7. Do any of the arsenal board read these blogs?

    From akinremi s, on Sun 5 Oct 11:01AM

  8. Well what a bunch of idiots you lot are critisising Arsenal. So we had a draw on a debatable call from the line ref and have lost two games. Don't hear you critisising Man U who are lower down the table. It is too early to start spouting and Arsenal are holding their own in the champions league. You seem to forget that we have four important players injured, there were six earlier on and we managed to win with clear sheets. Our lads are good but don't have the experience, but they are still learning and will come good. They are a skilled team. On the other hand Sunderland have no great records to boast about and you all will be eating humble pie when Arsenal comes good. What chance have you nit wits got when you can't even spell correctly and need to go back to school to learn some grammar.Your team have no special skills but defence and cramping every ones else's style so as to settle for a draw. Must be the Northern way - no skill just thuggery!

    From glynisperfect, on Sun 5 Oct 11:00AM

  9. I WONDER HOW BIG DICK BENDTNER HAVE

    From web_bb2000, on Sun 5 Oct 10:47AM

  10. We are very disapoited. with the way,this yong players are playing .Arsen W try you best to looks for good players ,if your dreaming about the title of premier league.for you to mark historie we need good players .millions of millions of supportors are now crying.

    From justinokenyowot, on Sun 5 Oct 10:35AM

  11. sapcommando!

    From nick, on Sun 5 Oct 10:29AM

  12. sapcommando!

    From nick, on Sun 5 Oct 10:28AM

  13. JAMMY GITS JUST LIKE THE MUNICHS YOU RIDE ON LUCK C.T.I.D.

    From mcpluker, on Sun 5 Oct 9:33AM

  14. oops its back haha

    From alfa147x, on Sun 5 Oct 9:18AM

  15. since my other comment seems to have been erased ill just say this.
    GREASEBALL it was Arsenal who were lucky. jammy gits

    From alfa147x, on Sun 5 Oct 9:18AM

  16. About time they gave the assistants a chance by changing the rule on ball out of play -how do you judge that the ball is still in play when its possibly only in by the width of a blade of grass, like at this match? I always believed that the rule should be based on the fact that if the balls centre is over the centre of the touchline, then the balls more out than in...Whatever happens, it still wouldn't solve the problem of a human being, (I know, that's going too far calling the inept/corrupt/blind official human), running up and down the line, making a split second call.

    From Brian C, on Sun 5 Oct 9:16AM

  17. GREASEBALL cop on. (comment 82) It was Arsenal who were the lucky ones. Game shudda been over when they got the goal. But they got it (jammy gits)

    From alfa147x, on Sun 5 Oct 9:10AM

  18. Whether the assistant was right to rule the first Arsenal goal, or not, hardly matters. Plenty of decisions went against the Balck Cats in the last two seasons, it's nice to see some finally going our way. Swings and Roundabouts! Wenger should stp whinging and look to his own teams inadequacies. If you play all out attacking football against the Nig Four, you risk getting slaughtered. Arsenal was always going to be a tough game, especially since they were smarting from losing to the Tigers. Nice to see the team keep its ahape and defend so well. The equaliser? Well we've scored plenty of last minute goals, so we should know by now that game isn't over until the final whistle! A very encouraging performance.

    From Paperboy, on Sun 5 Oct 9:10AM

  19. To Rosenglish, the decision was analysed time after time on MOTD and Sky and it still is not certain whether it did or not. the assistant made a conscious decision on the spur of the moment, so get over it, you'll get some in your favour over the course of the season. By the way, I suppose Wenger (Winger) could see that one from where he was sitting, eh?? LOL

    From shawsyshaw, on Sun 5 Oct 8:02AM

  20. Well Well, its hard to score more goals if you collect opponets in big numbers in the box than the strikers, its no good to pass ball in box with over 7 players in the box defending. Otherwise arsenal lads should see Tevez,Rooney, C.Ronaldo, Tores & Grant Leadbitter for shooting lessons.haha haha

    From serugoronalds, on Sun 5 Oct 7:19AM
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