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West Ham United 2-2 Arsenal
Match Reports, 18:30, October 25, 2009 ,
Second half goals from Carlton Cole and Alessandro Diamanti's penalty secured ten-man West Ham a point in a 2-2 draw against Arsenal.
The Gunners were cruising to three points thanks to first half goals from Robin van Persie and William Gallas when Cole pulled one back with 16 minutes remaining. And a point was secured six minutes later thanks to Diamanti's spot-kick.
Scott Parker was red carded for two bookings late in the game but the Hammers survived to seal a point which leaves them in 19th spot on six points. Arsenal move above Spurs into third place level on 19 points.
Following a fairly tight opening to the game with nothing much to divide the two sides, Arsenal took the lead on 16 minutes. Bacary Sagna put a cross in from the right and Robert Green could only push it into the path of Van Persie who made no mistake from close range.
West Ham went close on 22 minutes when Mark Noble's drive from a tight angle deflected off Thomas Vermaelen and was pushed behind by keeper Vito Mannone.
Cole missed the Hammers' best chance on 34 minutes when he somehow headed wide Jonathan Spector's cross from the right when in front of goal.
The England international was made to rue that miss on 37 minutes when a Van Persie corner from the right was headed past Green by the unchallenged Gallas.
The second half burst into life on 74 minutes when Diamanti hit a fierce left-foot free kick at goal and Mannone could only parry it out to Cole who scored from close range with a stooping header.
West Ham should have had a penalty two minutes later when Gallas tripped Parker in the area. However they only had to wait two more minutes for a spot-kick when Alexandre Song brought down Cole and this time Chris Foy pointed to the spot.
Following a two-minute delay Diamanti stepped up to rifle his kick into the corner of the net to level up the game.
Parker's deliberate handball on 85 minutes saw him red carded for two bookings, while Green was the injury time hero for the Hammers as his outstretched leg prevented Van Persie's header from Sagna's right-wing cross from stealing the points for the Gunners.