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4 November 2007, by Sean Gillen

Ronaldo nets but United pegged back by last-gasp Arsenal equaliser

Arsenal 2-2 Manchester United

Manchester United were denied leadership of the Premiership as William Gallas’ dramatic injury time equaliser saw the league’s top two share the points at the Emirates.

Cristiano Ronaldo’s goal looked to have ended Arsenal’s unbeaten record, on an afternoon that United largely frustrated the Gunners, but the Frenchman popped up in the 91st minute to see the Londoners stay at the summit.

The first half saw Arsenal edge possession, but United contained their opponents well and looked more dangerous going forward. The champions caused problems with several crosses from wide areas, with a wicked Ronaldo ball almost finding Ryan Giggs at the back post.

Ronaldo assist

Indeed, United stunned the home crowd by taking the lead out of the blue just before half time, and Ronaldo was the provider from out wide. Wes Brown won possession and fed the Portuguese on the right, with the former Sporting man firing a cross into the near post and Wayne Rooney’s finish taking a nick off Gallas before bobbling past Almunia.

The lead would prove short-lived, however, as Arsenal levelled just two minutes into the second period when a save from Edwin van Der Sar was pulled back into the danger area by Bacary Sagna, leaving Cesc Fabregas to calmly pass into the bottom corner from close range.

United looked somewhat vulnerable for a brief period after the goal, but the champions soon regained their composure as manager Alex Ferguson made two changes, bringing on Michael Carrick and Louis Saha for Carlos Tevez and the impressive Anderson.

The move paid off, with Frenchman Saha doing brilliantly to help create a goal for Ronaldo with a little under ten minutes remaining. The substitute showed good control and excellent vision to play overlapping full-back Patrice Evra in on the inside-left of the area, and Evra picked out Ronaldo in the centre to give the Portuguese the simple task of sidefooting home.

Arsenal warning

The following five minutes saw United keep possession comfortably, but Arsenal fired a warning shot two minutes before the end of normal time when substitute Eduardo da Silva lashed wide with a good opportunity on his left foot.

Although setting up United’s opener and scoring the second, Ronaldo had a disappointing afternoon on the whole, and may feel aggrieved at not clearing the ball in the build-up to Gallas’ goal. Instead the 22-year-old lost out on possession inside his own half with an attempted dribble, leaving Gael Clichy with time and space on the left flank.

The young Frenchman crossed into the United area and, after a scramble in the box, Gallas hooked in from close range, with further chaos in the goalmouth before the players realised that the linesman had correctly flagged for a goal.

Arsenal:
Almunia, Sagna, Clichy, Toure, Gallas, Flamini, Fabregas, Eboue (Walcott, 74), Rosicky (Eduardo, 80), Hleb (Gilberto, 80), Adebayor
Yellow Cards: Fabregas

Man United:
Van Der Sar, Brown (O’Shea, 71), Evra, Ferdinand, Vidic, Hargreaves, Anderson (Carrick, 76), Giggs, Ronaldo, Rooney, Tevez (Saha, 76)
Yellow Cards: Evra, Hargreaves

Goals:
[0-1] Rooney, 45
[1-1] Fabregas, 48
[1-2] Ronaldo, 82
[2-2] Gallas, 91