Schwarzer’s save secures point for Fulham

Arsenal 3 Fulham 3

Mark Schwarzer’s last-gasp penalty save clinched a deserved point for Fulham in a dramatic derby.

Arsenal were awarded a controversial spot-kick after Andrey Arshavin’s cross hit the helpless Sascha Riether’s arm.

But veteran keeper Schwarzer dived to his left to keep out the penalty – the last kick of the match – and ensure justice was done.

Fulham had stormed back from two down to lead 3-2 before Olivier Giroud’s equaliser.

Dimitar Berbatov scored twice, with his penalty putting the Whites within sight of their first ever win at Arsenal.

Giroud’s 11th-minute opener had put the north London side in the driving seat and Lukas Podolski doubled their advantage before Berbatov netted his first.

Alex Kacaniklic, on as a substitute for the injured Kieran Richardson, levelled five minutes before the break.

And Berbatov calmly stroked home from the spot midway through the second half after Arteta had fouled Bryan Ruiz in the box.

Giroud then struck again to rescue Gunners, who must have thought they were in for an easy afternoon after making such a comfortable start.

They opened the scoring when Giroud got in front of Aaron Hughes to meet Walcott’s right-wing corner with a bullet header which Schwarzer got a hand to but was unable to keep out of the net.

Fulham were dealt another blow 10 minutes later when Richardson went off after pulling up with what appeared to be a hamstring problem.

They then found themselves further behind after a ricochet in the box fell kindly for Arteta.

The Spaniard went past Chris Baird and pulled the ball back, with Podolski sneaking between Hughes and Riether to score from close range.

It seemed like Fulham were heading for a thrashing before they were hauled back into the match by Berbatov’s header from Ruiz’s corner.

Berbatov then turned provider, drifting into space on the right and crossing for Kacaniklic to head in.

And after Arteta, having been dispossessed by Ruiz just inside the area, pulled down the Costa Rican, Berbatov’s penalty put Fulham ahead.

But they were in front for less than three minutes.

Giroud fired against the post after being found unmarked in the area and the loose ball was retrieved by Walcott, who crossed for the French forward to score.

A draw was the least Fulham deserved, and their fury after referee Phil Dowd gifted Arsenal a potential late winner was fully justified.

So too was their unconfined joy after Schwarzer’s heroics.

Fulham: Schwarzer, Riether, Hughes, Hangeland, Riise, Dejagah (Duff 84), Baird, Sidwell, Richardson (Kacaniklic 22), Berbatov, Ruiz. 
Subs not used: Stockdale, Senderos, Petric, Karagounis, Rodallega. 

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