Fabregas saves Arsenal. [Sunday October 05, 2008]
Cesc Fabregas claimed a vital injury-time equaliser as Arsenal escaped with a point from a dramatic 1-1 draw at Sunderland yesterday.
Meanwhile, Middlesbrough won 1-0 at Wigan and West Bromwich beat visitors Fulham by the same scoreline.
Arsene Wenger's side appeared to be heading for back-to-back league defeats for the first time in 18 months when substitute Grant Leadbitter broke the deadlock with a stunning 86th-minute strike.
But Arsenal showed a never-say-die spirit which was rewarded in the fourth and final minute of stoppage time as Fabregas stole in through a crowd of players at the near post to head home Robin van Persie's corner.
The draw hat left the Gunners on 13 points, one behind the leaders Chelsea and Liverpool ahead of today's matches.
Arsenal thought they should have taken the lead earlier when Theo Walcott cut the ball back for van Persie to score, but the match officials ruled the ball had gone out of play.
"It's frustrating. Sunderland didn't come out, they didn't try to play but they defended very well," Wenger said.
"We had a goal cancelled, then were 1-0 down from one of their rare shots. We had a good attitude but it wasn't an open football game. I expected them to play more going forward, but they were very, very defensive.
"That tells you a lot about the team and about Cesc as a man, he refuses to lose. Heading is not his strength but he scored with a good header."
Sunderland boss Roy Keane defended his tactics. "The temptation for me is to have a go but you look at Arsenal's last few away games, particularly on the break...," he said.
"I thought we were outstanding, we had a lot of discipline and had to do a lot of defending." Keane was pleased for Sunderland-raised Leadbitter.
"It's nice to see a local lad coming through and making an impact. He's a top lad, a great pro and we're all delighted for him."
At the JJB Stadium, former Gunners striker Jeremie Aliadiere scored a last-ditch goal of his own, his 89th-minute effort the only goal of the game as visitors Middlesbrough beat Wigan.
The goal ended Middlesbrough's run of four straight defeats and was their first non-defeat on the road this season.
Aliadiere got on the end of a Stuart Downing header and beat goalkeeper Ross Turnbull with a left-footed finish from the centre of the penalty area.
Meanwhile Roman Bednar's 61st-minute goal at the Hawthorns was enough to see off visitors Fulham.
From : www.nst.com.my
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