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 54 - 73 of 113

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  1. we really need a big midfielder by january and a great defender,willam G need to be replaced,arsenal Boss suppose to know by now,Long live arsenal football club.Charmtoms Dublin

    From charmtomgrace, on Sat 4 Oct 9:18PM

  2. i wish sunderland won simply because they were the better side and destroyed arsenal to bits.sunderlan also took the lead by a good goal and arsenal got a tap in.

    From David, on Sat 4 Oct 9:16PM

  3. always bad at front

    From nibret, on Sat 4 Oct 9:12PM

  4. Hey Every body it is possible to say arsenal is Moody. Winger has to wake and treat tis with Key players.
    It is there mostly at the front te problems layed. Last weeek wit Porto It was not 4 but 8, and always Arse striker tries abot 20-30 but skores 1-6. To get trophy there is no need to miss-----missss any single chance at the front

    today it seems the convension not to give Ball to Walcot at right I thing we need Left foot that can give ball to right
    Fans COOL b/c Gastritis this year

    From nibret, on Sat 4 Oct 9:10PM

  5. Ha, Ha. Mackems are the luckiest team on earth, with the worst goalkeeper too; and they nearly got away with murder yet again!
    Thank God for Fabregas; we'd never have heard the last of it if the 'charmed ones' fluked this one as well!
    ps
    where did all the extra fans come from - typical part-time sunderland support, turn up for the glamour games - shame on you.

    From cameron w, on Sat 4 Oct 8:59PM

  6. perry08

    I doubt Barnet would have Torres in their team...

    From WFCluke, on Sat 4 Oct 8:56PM

  7. oops they all closed their eyes no wonder the ball goes in

    From Fahmi, on Sat 4 Oct 8:55PM

  8. arsenal never get ne luck
    man u n chelsea always seem to fukin get it but i think we need diaby back and a centre half who can head the ball

    From caine_walker15, on Sat 4 Oct 8:51PM

  9. Even though i love arsenal, i know they wont win anything. They should have atleast 4 high calibre players in their squad like C Ronaldo, Robinho, Sneijder, or even Kaka. Agreed they cant buy any of these four, but someone equivalent would have done wonders for the club. Maybe players like Moutinho, Freddy Adu, Kerlon etc would do some good. Fabregas and Theo Walcott are the only class players as far as I can see

    They'll continue suffering in the name of youth academy talent. What happens when wenger leaves Arsenal in 2 years time?(Yes he has confirmed it)

    From abbass05, on Sat 4 Oct 8:49PM

  10. THINGS ARE LOOKING UP FOR ARSENAL... NOT A BAD RESULT AGAINST SUNDERLAND CONSIDERING LAST WEEKS LOSS AT HOME TO HULL.

    From abbass05, on Sat 4 Oct 8:36PM

  11. i tink its time to rily bring in the video to help all dis whack refs. Its kiling the game. Bad officiating..

    From Olakunle KQT, on Sat 4 Oct 8:24PM

  12. Bad refereeing, sour grapes, that gnondaba bloke wants to realise that these things even themselves out over the season. Ive lost count of the times Arsenal have benefited from dodgy decisions. Arsene Wenger doesnt see these!!!

    From P, on Sat 4 Oct 8:21PM

  13. I have one thing to say

    luck, luck, luck

    From Annamarie G, on Sat 4 Oct 8:21PM

  14. gooner on the march - BUT YOU NEVER BLOODY WIN ANYTHING YOU @#$%. Whats the point of all your lovely football (so you say) if theres no silverware. For goodness sake grow up you stupid little prat.

    From Mike S, on Sat 4 Oct 8:20PM

  15. ChuxieM - sorry what the f**k are you talking about Either write in English or f**k off completely you tit

    From Mike S, on Sat 4 Oct 8:16PM

  16. @ Peter.rudland

    You berk even the best teams have off days...get a life you moronic tit

    From daniel.thorpe@..., on Sat 4 Oct 8:16PM

  17. all these bad comments about arsenal make me laugh theres not another team in the land that can play total football like the boys and we dont need to spend millions to do it are time is comming wait and see theres only 1 arsene wenger

    From gooner on the march, on Sat 4 Oct 8:13PM

  18. i aint got nothing 2 say 2 millionires bootleakers who's been flooding ds site with arant rubish.chelsie fans should pik a copy of their matches b4 d russian brought his millions and watch.but then most of them got no club then,they came with d millions!am sure they will leave with it.cos he will go someday,he isnt making much now anyways.as 4 liverpool fans,u guys r headin 2 div 2,no point saying much 2 u.gunner 4 eva!!!!!!

    From Chuxie M, on Sat 4 Oct 8:10PM

  19. free scoring arsenal..what a joke... do i need more than two fimgers to show how many shots arsenal had on goal from more than six yards

    From peter.rudland@..., on Sat 4 Oct 8:05PM

  20. When will the action against bad refering be taken. This is dame costing our team.Thanks to fabregas's goal for a point but to hell with poor match officiating.

    From gnondaba, on Sat 4 Oct 8:03PM
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