Arsenal lose ground as City plunder a point
(Agencies)
Updated: 2005-01-05 11:16

Shaun Wright-Phillips' sensational first half strike helped Manchester City plunder a point from Arsenal as Arsene Wenger's side fell further behind Chelsea at the top of the Premiership.

Arsenal's manager Arsene Wenger holds his head in his hands during as his side plays Manchester City during their English Premier League soccer match at Highbury, London, January 4, 2005. The match was drawn 1-1. [Reuters]

Tuesday's 1-1 draw at Highbury means the Gunners, despite a rousing effort in the last 20 minutes, are now seven points behind Jose Mourinho's Chelsea, who beat Middlesbrough 2-0 at Stamford Bridge.

City had not won at Highbury since 1975 and would have ended that dismal run had it not been for Freddie Ljungberg's headed equaliser with 15 minutes to go.

Kevin Keegan's sides are not normally associated with robust defending but Republic of Ireland central defender Richard Dunne - once the heaviest player in the Premiership at over 15 stone - shone in an immense defensive display by City.

City were the first to launch an attack and Robbie Fowler's looping header in the first minute was gathered acrobatically by Arsenal's Spanish keeper Manuel Almunia.

But Thierry Henry found his range just three minutes later when his effort from 20 yards was saved at the second attempt by David James.

Arsenal's Thierry Henry reacts after missing a shot at goal against Manchester City during their English Premier League soccer match at Highbury, London, January 4, 2005. [Reuters]

In the 19th minute Robin van Persie got a sight of goal when good work by Henry from Ashley Cole's cross saw him shoot tamely at James.

Ten minutes later Henry improvised as he volleyed Cesc Fabregas' cross-field ball into James' side-netting with his instep.

But just after the half-hour mark the Gunners were stunned when City took the lead with a goal of outstanding quality.

On the ground where his father Ian Wright earned legendary status in the 1990s, England winger Shaun Wright-Phillips seized on a loose ball and powered a brilliant 25-yard opener past Almunia and into the top right hand corner.

Ian, who is still Arsenal's record goalscorer with 185 goals in 288 matches, looked on from the stands with a glance of approval without upsetting the Highbury fans who adored him for seven trophy-laden years.

The blistering strike was further evidence of Wright-Phillips' emergence as a genuine replacement for David Beckham on the right of England's midfield.

So far the 23-year-old's brief England career is blighted by memories of the outrageous racial abuse he received from home fans during England's friendly with Spain at Real Madrid's Bernabeu Stadium in November.

Arsenal responded in the 37th minute when Henry's corner from the left saw captain Patrick Vieira beat James to the aerial ball - but his header landed inches wide of the left-hand post.

In the second half Arsene Wenger's side upped the ante in search of an equaliser and in the 48th minute Ashley Cole's far post header from van Persie's cross was well saved by James.

Gunners defender Justin Hoyte was booked in the 55th minute by referee Rob Styles for a cynical touchline trip on City's Robbie Fowler as Arsenal's frustration grew.

Ten minutes later Wenger threw on one-time teenage sensation Jermaine Pennant in place of Fabregas in an attempt to unsettle City's unusually rigid rearguard.

Then James once again reaffirmed his bid to regain his place in goal for England by tipping Pires' vicious 25-yard volley over the crossbar moments later.

But Arsenal could not be kept at bay and they finally found an equaliser in the 75th minute.

Van Persie's cross from the right was headed out by Dunne only for Henry to hook the ball back in from the left with an overhead kick and Freddie Ljungberg scored his third in two games.

Three minutes later van Persie smashed a curling free-kick onto James' bar but City survived because Cole could not convert the rebound.

With seven minutes left Pennant escaped down the right and stretched every sinew to cross only for van Persie to hook over the bar.

Play swung from end to end in the closing moments as first Arsenal showed their fear of Wright-Plhillips by backing off as he strode deep into Gunners territory.

Only a brave late lunge by Phillippe Senderos saved Arsenal before Wright-Phillips unleashed his shot.

And with an immediate counter-attack Henry was thwarted by a courageous saving challenge from the impressive Dunn.

But the ball only ran as far as Pires, whose chip was headed an inch over by Henry under pressure from James.

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