Match Report A mistake by Liverpool keeper Pepe Reina allowed Arsenal to salvage a draw against a Reds side who had Joe Cole sent off on his Premier League debut. Cole was red-carded for a lunge on Laurent Koscielny before David Ngog's drive put Liverpool ahead. The lead lasted until the last minute when Marounae Chamakh diverted a cross against the post and Reina spilled the rebound into his own net. Koscielny was then sent-off for a second bookable offence in injury-time. The late drama capped a frantic finish to the game, with Reina the unlikely culprit as victory eluded a Liverpool side who had resolutely held Arsenal at bay until then. The Reds had defended with a discipline and determination after the dismissal of Cole. The arrival of Cole at Anfield on a free transfer had been heralded as one of the transfer coups of the summer, with Liverpool desperate for the kind of his creativity and invention the playmaker would bring. But, instead, of Cole arriving as a shining knight to Liverpool's rescue, his Premier League debut for the Merseysiders quickly turned into a nightmare. He had been deployed in his favoured position in the hole behind lone striker David Ngog but he cut a subdued figure as he failed to get into the game, with Arsenal quickly closing him down on the rare occasions he was in possession. His afternoon got worse on the stroke of half-time when he produced a reckless challenge on Koscielny and referee Martin Atkinson wasted little time in producing a straight red card. Koscielny was stretchered off, although he did come back out after the break. Cole's dismissal had come shortly after a Glen Johnson shot had been tipped over the bar Arsenal keeper Manuel Almunia and an Ngog header from a Gerrard corner had been cleared off the line by Gael Clichy. Those were rare chances in an opening half in which Arsenal had easily dominated possession and looked the more threatening. It appeared the Gunners would only add to the danger they posed with the numerical advantage of an extra player but they were jolted out of any sort of complacency in the second half. The Gunners gave possession away on the edge of their area and Javier Mascherano seized on the loose ball to play in Ngog, who angled in a shot which Almunia will be disappointed to have let in at his near post. Arsenal were shaken and the 10-men of Liverpool seized the initiative, with Ngog wasting a promising chance to add to the lead when he headed a Steven Gerrard free-kick over from six yards. Arsneal manager Arsene Wenger had insisted beforehand that his side were ready to launch a title assault this season and they had an early test of their credentials at Anfield. The visitors continued to have the lion's share of possession and a Vermaelen header going wide from a Tomas Rosicky cross saw them go close before Reina tipped a Theo Walcott free-kick round the post. Reina also tipped a Rosicky strike just over the bar before his normal assured manner deserted him to give Arsenal a share of the spoils. |