Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger may have arrived in Germany with the weight of the
world on his shoulders but he left with an even more significant headache on his
mind.
His side were on their way to their first away Champions League victory in
almost a year at Bayer Leverkusen as they looked set to cope in the face of
adversity again, even after seemingly unfairly being reduced to 10 men.
However, the worries of FA Cup kick-off timings, Lauren's late return from
international duty and Patrick Vieira's possible misconduct investigation were
nothing compared to the frustration of conceding a last-minute equaliser.
When it came, Ulf Kirsten's late strike was the harshest of blows.
It should not take anything away from a battling performance amid a defensive
injury crisis.
Indeed, watched by Sven-Goran Eriksson, not only did Sol Campbell produce a
towering display at the heart of a defence reinvigorated by the return of David
Seaman after injury, but even Igors Stepanovs rose to the occasion.
However, the goal still removed a vital two points from Arsenal's Champions
League campaign, with a visit to Juventus and a home tie against Deportivo la
Coruna yet to come.
Wenger would probably have settled for a draw before kick-off, but not in
these circumstances.
Ray Parlour's red card was Arsenal's 13th of the season but looked possibly
their harshest as Yildiray Basturk appeared to dive for the midfielder's second
caution if not also the first.
Arsenal had not kept a clean sheet in their previous 11 Champions League ties
and, down to 10 men, they duly failed again. But how close it was.
All this was in the absence of Tony Adams, Martin Keown, Lee Dixon, Ashley
Cole, Matthew Upson and Oleg Luzhny from the Gunners' defensive ranks.
Campbell nevertheless rose to the challenge amid the increased responsibility
and there was also the reassuring sight behind him of Seaman.
After almost five months out injured, the England keeper had less than two
minutes to gather his bearings in the pouring rain before he had to block Oliver
Neuville's first effort.
However, his calmness under pressure pervaded through the back four and
Arsenal made the positive start which their manager had appealed for after timid
opening spells had undermined them in previous away trips.
While Kanu and Sylvain Wiltord were denied by keeper Jorg Butt, Campbell's
header was cleared off the line by the all-action figure of Basturk.
And while Arsenal still needed Campbell's timely interception from Kirsten,
Jens Nowotny had to be just as alert to cut out dangerous breaks by Giovanni van
Bronckhorst and Wiltord.
Leverkusen made early inroads at the start of the second half but with
Campbell continuing to lead by example, Stepanovs began to match his team-mate
with an adept covering interception.
With 56 minutes gone, the Gunners even seized the lead, something they had not
achieved on their European travels since their last away win in the competition
in Lyon a year ago.
Pires began the free-flowing move by advancing almost 30 yards before slipping
a pass to Wiltord, who quickly returned the ball to his compatriot as he slid in
to divert it just inside the far post.
Leverkusen posed little significant danger until Parlour was extremely harshly
dismissed with 27 minutes left, seemingly the victim of a second dive by the
acrobatic figure of Basturk.
Parlour, who has already been sent off twice this season among Arsenal's 11
previous red cards -- and one of those was unfortunate against Newcastle -- had
been booked for a similarly questionable foul on Basturk in the first half.
After one warning, he received his marching orders for hardly touching the
midfielder on the edge of his penalty box.
Wenger's response was understandably defensive, replacing Wiltord with Gilles
Grimandi, who stepped into central midfield alongside Vieira, while Edu also
came on for Kanu.
It looked to have worked, albeit in the face of substantial pressure as
Dimitar Berbatov struck the bar with one header and Stepanovs was fortunate to
survive appeals for hand ball as he flung himself to deflect another header.
However, their backs to the wall display did not last forever and with just a
minute of normal time left, German international Kirsten converted a deep cross
from close range at the far post to equalise.
If Wenger was livid though, just imagine Dennis Bergkamp's reaction.
He had driven 500 miles to attend the tie but was forced to stay on the bench
throughout.
It was a frustrating night all round.
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