London: Arsenal defender Thomas Vermaelen scored at both ends as the Gunners had to settle for a 1-1 draw with Fulham in a tight encounter at the Emirates in the Premier League on Saturday.
Vermaelen's own goal gifted the visitors, who had not won at Arsenal in 25 attempts, the lead in the 66th minute. The Belgian international's attempted tackle on John Arne Riise ended up in his own net as the full-back bore down on goal. He redeemed himself when nodding in from close range with seven minutes left, heading Theo Walcott's cross from the right past Mark Schwarzer, but the Gunners could not grab a winner, bringing to an end their five-game winning streak in league.
Arsene Wenger made two changes from the team that beat Borussia Dortmund in mid-week in the Champions League, with Andrey Arshavin replacing Gervinho and Johan Djourou in for Laurent Koscielny.
Arsenal started brightly and thought they were ahead after just four minutes when Van Persie found Arshavin with a through ball in the box which the Russian poked past Schwarzer, only to be flagged offside. The visitors were giving Wenger's side space to work the ball and were nearly made to pay for this when Van Persie found Aaron Ramsey, who ran deep from the midfield, but his looping effort was tipped wide by Schwarzer.
Martin Jol's side began to tighten up in defence and were nearly rewarded when Bobby Zamora got the better of Vermaelen as he turned the Belgian, but he couldn't get his shot on target as it flew wide of Wojciech Szczesny's goal.
Arsenal were always a threat though, and should have taken the lead when Walcott for the first time in the game ran at Riise and outpaced him down the right, his cross found Ramsey in the middle, but the Welshman blazed his effort over the bar. Walcott again caused problems for Riise down the right moments later as he turned him inside and out before firing a powerful shot at goal, which was well-saved again by Schwarzer, who was certainly busy in the opening 30 minutes.
The Gunners were comfortable in possession but couldn't find the killer touch to break the deadlock as again Van Persie and Ramsey scuffed decent openings carved out by Walcott.
It was the Cottagers who came closest to scoring before the break following good build-up play by Zamora and Clint Dempsey saw Moussa Dembele put clear down the left, but his shot was saved well by Szczesny.
Arsenal began the second half with the majority of possession but, like in the first half, lacked the clinical edge to carve out a clear chance in front of goal. This gave Fulham belief going forward and they gave the Gunners a torrid time from set-pieces, even as Brede Hangeland and Dempsey couldn't quite direct their headers on target.
Wenger's side were looking to skipper Van Persie for inspiration to get them ahead and the Dutchman almost obliged as dribbled round Hangeland before shooting at goal beating Schwarzer, only for Chris Baird to clear the ball off the line.
Baird's intervention proved to be crucial as Martin Jol's side took the lead in the 65th minute when Vermaelen put the ball in to his own net after Riise made a brilliant run to the back-post. The left-back collected Danny Murphy's cross on his chest and tried to take control, but was beaten to the ball by the Belgian, who turned it goal-wards, and the ball trickled into the right-hand corner of Szczesney's net.
The Gunners were jolted into action by going behind and if not for a great reaction save by Schwarzer they would have level as the Australian clawed Djourou's header away from goal when it look destined for the net.
Arsenal finally got their goal when Vermaelen scored at the right end with a close-range downwards header following a great run by the defender, much to the relief of the home fans.
Wenger's were really upping the ante now and shots were flying in from all angles at the Fulham goal as the visitors struggled to hang on against the rampant home side.
The Gunners pushed but couldn't find another way through the visitors defence and were denied a sixth straight victory in the Premier League, while Fulham drew their match for the second week in a row.
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