West Ham manager Gianfranco Zola praised the fighting spirit of his team as they took an unlikely point in a 2-2 draw with Arsenal.

The Gunners had looked in complete control following first-half goals from Robin van Persie and William Gallas. However, Carlton Cole pulled a goal back following a free-kick, 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 as England goalkeeper Robert Green - at fault for the opener - produced a fine reaction save from Van Persie's bullet header in stoppage time.

Zola said: "It is not a victory, but it sounded like it with the crowd, and that is what I was looking for. No matter what, the spirit has to be there all the time. That is something we can not do without.

"Last week [at Stoke] I saw something, a change and it is very important and after this game I saw something more.

"It was very difficult to come back from that situation, but we did it and I am very pleased and proud of them. I am more focused on the point and to give a signal we are there and we are fighting."