Arsenal hold Man United to 2-2 draw

Updated 17.16 Sat Nov 03 2007

Keywords: Wayne Rooney, William Gallas, Cesc Fabregas, Cristiano Ronaldo, Sir Alex ferguson, Arsene Wenger, Champions League, Arsenal, Premier League, Manchester United, football, sport

William Gallas's last-gasp strike ensured Arsenal maintain their unbeaten start to the season by holding Manchester United to a 2-2 draw.

Captain Gallas volleyed the ball over the line from a tight angle in stoppage time to leave the Gunners with a share of the spoils at Ashburton Grove and on top of the Premier League table.

"We had to fight. We said if we had to die we would die together on that field" - William Gallas

Arsene Wenger's men were staring their first defeat of the season squarely in the face after Cristiano Ronaldo tapped home a cross from Patrice Evra nine minutes from the end.

But Gallas was on hand to cancel out the Portuguese winger's seventh goal of the campaign and make amends for his earlier contribution which saw him deflect Wayne Rooney's effort past his own goalkeeper right on the stroke of half-time.

Arsenal recovered from that setback three minutes into the second half when Cesc Fabregas took his tally for the season to 11 after Emmanuel Eboue and Emmanuel Adebayor had looked to put Edwin Van der Sar under pressure.

Gallas reflected as the Gunners extended their unbeaten run in all competitions to a club record 25 matches: "We had to fight. We said if we had to die we would die together on that field. "

The Gunners captain added: "I think we had to stay top of the table, we have to put pressure on other teams - other teams can go back like Chelsea or another team.

"We have to stay at the top to put pressure on Manchester United and maybe they can make the mistake."

With Chelsea winning 2-0 at Wigan, Arsenal's lead is down to three points but Wenger's men still have a game in hand on both the Blues and United.