Dynamo Kiev 1-1 Arsenal: Late William Gallas strike saves the day
Published 00:00 18/09/08 By By John Cross Reports From Kiev
William Gallas was Arsenal's unlikely saviour with a last - gasp equaliser to salvage a precious Champions League point.
Arsenal were heading for another defeat in Eastern Europe until Gallas popped up in the Dynamo Kiev penalty box to stab home from point-blank range in the 88th minute.
It spared the Gunners' blushes because they very nearly blew it against a poor Dynamo Kiev team, who led through Ismael Bangoura's controversial 64thminute penalty.
But skipper Gallas could not hide his disappointment at the result, which he claimed felt like a defeat. He said: "It was really hard out there.
"I think we played well first half but in the second we didn't play, we didn't defend very well and conceded the goal. I don't know if it was a penalty or not. It's not bad but we feel we could do better, we could take the full points but one point is not too bad.
"When you see you can win the game, it is normal to be disappointed. We have to work more to be ready for Bolton on Saturday.
"I don't feel anything about my goal - I just feel about not getting the victory. I'm very disappointed, like the players and the manager. I scored a goal but nothing else."
Arsene Wenger's men had a different look about them than on their previous unsuccessful visits to this part of the world - and made a confident start. They strung together a patient, stylish passing move after three minutes with man of the moment Theo Walcott finally releasing Robin van Persie, whose near-post shot was blocked by Dynamo keeper Stanislav Bogush.
Emmanuel Adebayor seized on an awful back pass from Roman Eremenko in the 19th minute but the striker - who scored a hat-trick at Blackburn on Saturday - wasted a decent opening by firing well wide from the edge of the box.
Their main handicap was Alex Song, who has a habit of giving the ball away in dangerous areas. He played one square pass across his own penalty box - the sort of elementary error which should be stamped out by under-11 level.
Arsenal created two gilt-edged chances just before the interval. Walcott's cross found van Persie but the Dutchman shot with his weaker right foot into the side netting from 12 yards.
Van Persie was involved again when he flicked Adebayor's pass to Cesc Fabregas, only for the Spanish midfielder to fire straight at Bogush.
Walcott gave Arsenal a scare after the restart, the England winger needing treatment after being caught by Andriy Nesmachniy, but he eventually returned with little more than a hobble.
Walcott came in for further rough treatment from Nesmachniy, who was booked for another clattering challenge on the 19-year-old.
Arsenal were left kicking themselves when Dynamo, second best throughout, took a surprise lead after some haphazard defending.
First, Gallas's mistake allowed Bangoura to cross and Bacary Sagna climbed on Ognjen Vukojevic, both players tumbling in a heap.
The Arsenal man looked hard done by but, despite protests, referee Luis Medina Cantalejo gave a penalty from which Bangoura calmly sent Alumnia the wrong way.
Dynamo Kiev: Bogush 7, Betao 6, Diakhate 6, Mikhalik 6, Nesmachniy 6, Vukojevic 6, Yussuf 6 (Asatiani 90), Eremenko 7, Aliyev 6, Ninkovic 6, Bangoura 7 (Kravets 90).
Arsenal: Almunia 6, Sagna 6, Toure 6 (Eboue 78), Gallas 5, Clichy 6, Walcott 7, Song 5 (Bendtner 70, 5), Fabregas 6, Denilson 6, van Persie 6 (Vela 83), Adebayor 6.
Ref: Luis M. Cantalejo ATT: 20,000
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