Gunners blow two-goal lead

12 April 2012

West Ham battled back to earn 2-2 draw with Arsenal at Upton Park.

The Gunners had looked in complete control following goals from Robin van Persie and William Gallas.

However, Carlton Cole pulled a goal back before substitute Alessandro Diamanti netted a late penalty.

West Ham finished with 10 men when Scott Parker was shown a second yellow card, but were not to be denied a much-needed positive result.

Arsenal took the lead on 16 minutes. Abou Diaby fed full-back Bacary Sagna on the overlap down the right. The French defender whipped the ball across the six-yard box, where Robert Green came to palm it away, only to collide with James Tomkins, leaving Van Persie free to slot into an empty net for his sixth goal of the season.

Upton Park was subdued, with the home fans starting to get restless before Arsenal doubled their lead on 37 minutes. Van Persie whipped the ball across towards the far post, where Gallas got up to thump a header past Parker on the line.

Diamanti then smashed the ball goalwards, which Vito Mannone pushed back to the six-yard box where Cole headed in.

The home fans were screaming for a penalty when Parker went down after running into Gallas, but the referee waved play on.

However, a spot-kick was given with 10 minutes left when Alex Song tripped Cole. After Mannone had been booked for not going back on his line, Diamanti levelled to send Upton Park into delirium.

West Ham were reduced to 10 men when Parker was shown a second yellow card for deliberately falling on the ball as Fabregas charged clear.

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