West Ham rally to draw 2-2 with Arsenal

Oct 25, 2009 - 7:16 PM By JAMES PIERCY STATS European Football Writer=

LONDON (SE) - Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger challenged his side to be more ruthless after throwing away a two-nil lead to be held to a 2-2 draw at struggling West Ham on Sunday.

Italian striker Alessandro Diamanti came off the bench to score one goal and make another as the ten-man Hammers put a dent in Arsenal's title hopes.

Wenger said: "It is disappointing because we had a good game and came away with the minimum.

"We had enough chances to win but it is always difficult to win any game and as long as you do not score the third goal the other team have a chance of coming back.

"We need to keep doing what we are doing but we need to be more ruthless in front of goal."

Wenger was also unhappy with referee Chris Foy for awarding West Ham a penalty, from which Diamanti equalised, after Carlton Cole had gone down under Alex Song's challenge.

The Frenchman added "I did not think it was a penalty. I do not want to complain too much about the referee but we were fouled a lot today.

"They are fighting for their lives and they fight hard.

"I believe we were bit unlucky today with decisions and we had many disadvantages in the game."

Arsenal looked on course for an easy victory after first half goals from in-form Robin van Persie and Williams Gallas.

The Gunners were gifted the lead after just 16 minutes when England goalkeeper Rob Green flapped at Song's cross, allowing van Persie to slot into an unguarded net.

Defender Gallas scored Arsenal's second goal 20 minutes later, climbing above Cole to head home van Persie's right wing corner.

Cole reduced the arrears in the 74th minute with a diving header after Diamanti's well struck free kick had been pushed straight into his path by Arsenal goalkeeper Vitto Mannone.

Diamanti smashed in the equaliser from the penalty spot with 10 minutes remaining. Mannone guessed the right way but the substitute's kick was too well placed into the bottom left corner.

Scott Parker was then sent off for the second game in a row after being shown two yellow cards in seven minutes for a foul on Emmanuel Eboue and a hand ball.

Arsenal almost made their man advantage tell in the final seconds when van Persie's header from point blank range was brilliantly kept out by Green.

West Ham manager Gianfranco Zola afterwards claimed his half time team talk heralded the Hammers' unlikely comeback.

Zola, whose side remain second from bottom, said: "Today was another case where we started very well and we made a mistake and paid for it.

"At half time I had a chat with the players and everybody realised the only way to get out of the situation was to react.

"They did that and I am pleased and proud of them.

At the moment things are difficult but as long as we have the fighting spirit we had in the second half things will change around."