Gooners versus Man U

[freemocy]

I prefer Arsenal ; they play a good amazing football ...

[Kaniff]

PREMIER LEAGUE

LONDON: Arsenal were held to a 1-1 draw by relegation-threatened Portsmouth as their hopes of finishing fourth in the Premier League suffered a blow.

The result on Wednesday left the European Cup semi-finalists four points behind north London rivals Tottenham Hotspur in the race for the final qualifying spot in next season's Champions League.

Arsenal moved up a place to fifth, above Blackburn Rovers on goal difference, while Portsmouth stayed in the bottom three but climbed one spot to 18th, level on points with Birmingham City.

Thierry Henry put Arsenal ahead after 36 minutes with a precise shot into the far corner but Lomana Lua Lua equalised for Portsmouth in the 66th with a powerful header.

Arsenal striker Emmanuel Adebayor squandered two clear chances to put Arsenal 2-0 up but he contrived to miss with a shot and a header. "Given the chances we created … it was a disappointing result for us," Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said.

The London side made several changes after a 2-0 defeat to Manchester United on Sunday, fielding a young midfield partnership of Abou Diaby and Alex Song. However, Wenger refused to blame his team selection, saying: "I don't think we dropped the points because of that."

Henry got Arsenal off to the perfect start as he showed his class with a fine goal from outside the box after dispossessing Sean Davis.

Arsenal's Sol Campbell, playing for the first time since storming out of Highbury on February 1, had to be treated for a cut eye after an accidental elbow by Benjani Mwaruwari.

Campbell had been given compassionate leave and then suffered ankle and toe injuries, but the England hopeful managed a solid display on Wednesday on his return to the first team.

Arsenal were made to pay for Adebayor's profligacy after 66 minutes when Lua Lua headed powerfully past Jens Lehmann from a free kick on the right by midfielder Andres D'Alessandro.