Late Walcott goal ensures draw with Fulham

Arsenal finished the 2010/11 season in 4th place behind Manchester City who just pipped the Gunners to an automatic spot for the champions league group stages. Arsenal's last game finished 2-2 as they drew with Fulham at Craven Cottage on a hectic last day of the season. Van Persie and Walcott scored the goals for the Gunners. Fabregas once again missed out for Arsenal but Nasri and Djourou came back into the side whilst Chamakh came in for Walcott who started on the bench. Phillipe Senderos played against his old side for Fulham.

The first chance of the match fell to Kieran Gibbs as Sagna played the ball into the back post, where Gibbs met the ball but Schwarzer was there to stop the header.

25 minutes in Fulham took the lead through virtually their first attack of the game. Ramsey loosing possession to Dempsey who picked out Zamora. Zamora raced to the byline where he pulled the ball back to Sidwell who slotted the ball under Szczesny for 1-0.

4 minutes later Arsenal equalised through Van Persie. Diaby playing a one-two with Chamakh before playing the ball through to Van Persie, who comfortably put the ball past the oncoming Schwarzer in the Fulham goal.

Just before the break Thomas Vermaelen stopped a certain goal from Danny Murphy to stop Fulham taking the lead for the second time in the game. Murphy dinking the ball over Szczesny but Vermaelen slid in to stop the ball from crossing the line.

The score at half time was 1-1.

Samir Nasri then almost gave Arsenal the lead from a free kick after Dempsey had brought Wilshere down. Nasri managed to curl the ball around the ball and force a fantastic save out of Schwarzer to stop Arsenal from taking the lead.

Then Fulham took the lead again. Greening delivering a cross from the edge of the box which found Zamora 4 yards from goal to head home for 2-1.

Fulham then had to suffer going down to 10 men for the first time this season, after substitute Gera was sent off for a two footed lunge on Thomas Vermaelen. Gera had only been on the pitch for 4 minutes.

A minute from the end of the game Arsenal grabbed an equaliser to grab a draw with Fulham. Walcott getting away from Briggs and racing into the penalty area before firing a shot which bounced off the post and went in.

The final score finished Fulham 2-2 Arsenal.

The teams lineups:

Fulham: Schwarzer, Hughes, Senderos, Hangeland, Briggs, Greening(65), Murphy(65), Sidwell, Dempsey, Johnson, Zamora(70).
Subs: Stockdale, Salcido, Gera(70), Etuhu(65), Davies(65), Gudjohnsen, Kakuta.

Arsenal: Szczesny, Sagna, Djourou, Vermaelen, Gibbs(64), Nasri, Diaby(64), Wilshere, Ramsey(64), Van Persie, Chamakh.
Subs: Lehmann, Squillaci, Eboue(64), Miquel, Walcott(64), Denilson, Arshavin(64).

My man of the match: Robin Van Persie

Referee: Martin Atkinson
Attendance: 25,674