Arsenal indebted to supersub Rosicky

Tomas Rosicky salvaged a point for Arsenal with an added time equaliser to secure a 2-2 draw with Everton here on Saturday.

The draw moved Arsene Wenger’s side to within three points of Premier League leaders Chelsea.

It had appeared the Gunners were about to suffer their second home defeat of the season when Steven Pienaar fired the vistors into a deserved 2-1 lead with just nine minutes remaining at a snow-covered Emirates Stadium.

Earlier Leon Osman had put Everton ahead in the 13th minute only for that advantage to be cancelled out by Denilson’s deflected shot.

And fortune was again with the home side when Rosicky, who appeared as a second-half substitute, saw his late strike hit the legs of Everton’s Australia defender Lucas Neill and loop into goalkeeper Tim Howard’s net.

Everton’s failure to turn a succession of draws into wins meant they came into this game having won just one of their last eight league matches although their form has been steadily improving in recent weeks.

And with Landon Donovan now amongst their ranks following his loan switch from LA Galaxy, David Moyes’s side showed no lack of confidence as they set about disrupting Arsenal’s plans to increase the pressure on Chelsea.

Donovan had an immediate impact in his first Premier League start, operating effectively on the right.

With South Africa’s Steven Pienaar and Australia’s Cahill pushing forward down Everton’s left hand flank, the Arsenal defence was repeatedly stretched in the opening 45 minutes, creating space for striker Louis Saha.

The French forward got his first sight of goal in the seventh minute when he finished from close range only for the effort to be disallowed for offside.

Everton’s five-man midfield effectively smothered their opponents and when Arsenal did manage to work their way through, the visitors back-four was equally resolute.

The Gunners were clearly missing Alex Song, the holding midfielder who has been so impressive this season and is now absent on international duty with Cameroon at the African Nations Cup.

There was no excuse, however, for the rank bad defending that allowed Everton to take the lead after just 13 minutes.

Donovan swung in a routine corner from the right and Osman, one of the smallest players on the pitch was allowed to run from deep and jump unhindered to head the ball past Manuel Almunia.

Everton were good value for the lead with Arsenal struggling to create an opening of note.

But Wenger’s men were given a route back into the game in the 28th minute courtesy of a fortunate deflection after Donovan’s failure to clear from his own area.

The ball fell to Andrey Arshavin and made its way to Denilson via Eduardo and the Brazilian’s shot flew past the wrong-footed Howard after catching the back of Osman’s legs.

Arsenal were lucky to be on level terms but Everton should have soon been ahead again when Cahill found space between Bacary Sagna and William Gallas at the far post but was caught in two minds and wasted the headed chance.

The pattern of the game was maintained in the second-half with Everton’s defending becoming more impressive as Arsenal sought a winning goal.

By contrast the home side’s backline looked increasingly fragile and they were completely caught out by Cahill’s 81st minute pass that released Pienaar, who ran 50 yards before lifting the ball over Almunia.