Arsenal remain on course despite last-gasp goal

AZ Alkmaar 1 Arsenal 1. There was no real damage done in the long-run to Arsenal's long-term European hopes this season by last night's draw in Holland, courtesy of a stoppage-time equaliser from David Mendes da Silva, but Arsene Wenger will use the result to hammer home the virtues of playing to the end of a game to his careless players. In fact, if this match results in the Gunners injecting a little more ruthlessness into their game, it will have acted as a useful catalyst.

As it is, Arsenal remain on course to qualify from Group H of the Champions League - they require just one win from their remaining three games, two of which are at home. "In the Champions League, you know that many times in the last five minutes, anything can happen," Arsene Wenger told reporters. "It did but we are still in a very strong position."

Wenger's men, at relative full strength save for the injured Tomas Rosicky and Theo Walcott and with Vito Mannone keeping Manuel Almunia out in goal, appeared initially surprised by the commitment of their opponents, who shrugged away off-field financial problems at the club to put in a strong start to the game.

Mendes da Silva and Stijn Schaars were chasing every ball in the middle of the park, harrying Cesc Fabregas and Abou Diaby, and the Dutch kept themselves in contention for the first half hour. However, an Arsenal goal of murderous simplicity ten minutes before the break split the hosts' defence down the middle.

An Alkmaar defender lost possession then a flurry of passes between Andrei Arshavin, Robin Van Persie and Fabregas saw the Spaniard through to tap home his fifth of the season. Van Persie had a chance to double the advantage before half time, but his shot was pushed over by Sergio Romero in Alkmaar's goal.

The second half looked set to be an Arsenal goalfest, but instead Wenger's men emerged from the interval curiously just set on protecting their narrow lead. Van Persie had another shot saved by Romero and could have had a penalty, but slowly the belief of the home side - roared on by passionate support - gathered that they could snatch a point. Mendes da Silva's stunning volley from a headed-on free kick in the dying seconds of the game was fair reward for the Dutch team's endeavour. ·