Sol Campbell left the Fratton Park pitch covered in blood as relegation-battlers Portsmouth inflicted what could prove a lethal wound to Arsenal's hopes of a top-four finish in the Barclays Premiership.

The veteran England defender was making a first appearance in 10 weeks, but picked up a cut just above his eye early in the first half, and then had to be replaced late on following an accidental clash with substitute Svetoslav Todorov which left the Arsenal man clutching a cloth to a bleeding nose.

Thierry Henry's sublime finish had given Arsenal a deserved half-time lead, but they were made to pay for missed chances, notably through Togo striker Emmanuel Adebayor.

Lomana LuaLua equalised with a flashing header, and it was Pompey who finished the stronger, as their fight to beat the drop was boosted by what could prove to be a precious point to move them level with fourth-bottom Birmingham.

For Arsenal, they now trail Tottenham by four points, but have the small matter of a Champions League semi-final with Villarreal to contest - a two-legged tie sandwiched by what is a crunch north-London derby at Highbury later this month.

As points were at a premium, both sides had set about each other with some gusto from kick-off.

A flowing move down the right involving Abou Diaby and Freddie Ljungberg almost put Adebayor in on goal, but the Togo striker was heavy with his touch and Pompey scrambled the ball behind for a corner.

The hosts seemed content to soak up plenty of pressure and look to hit Arsenal on the counter-attack.

However, they found both Campbell and his centre-back partner Kolo Toure in solid form, taking no chances when dealing with long balls from the Pompey half.

After 17 minutes, Toure got up well at the far post to meet a corner from Jose Antonio Reyes on the left, but guided his header several feet wide.

At the other end, Benjani Mwaruwari flashed a drive across Jens Lehmann's goalmouth, but the Pompey record signing lacked any support in the six-yard box.

Soon after, Toure made a fantastic last-ditch tackle to deny LuaLua when the Pompey striker shaped to shoot from close range having been put clear down the right.

In the next Arsenal attack, Henry fed Reyes down the right. The Spaniard checked back inside, but drilled a shot into the side-netting.

Zimbabwe striker Mwaruwari tested referee Uriah Rennie's patience once too often with another late challenge, this time on full-back Johan Djourou and was promptly cautioned by the referee.

The visitors were then ahead through a sublime finish from Henry after 37 minutes.

The Arsenal captain won the ball from Sean Davies in midfield, and played a quick one-two with Adebayor before dispatching a inch-perfect low, 18-yard strike off the inside of Dean Kiely's left-hand post.

It should have been 2-0 before the break.

From the visitors' next counter attack, Henry was released into space down the right side of the area. He elected to cut the ball back across the six-yard box but somehow Adebayor, the goal at his mercy, miskicked from no more than three yards out and the chance was gone.

At the start of the second half, Campbell was caught by a leading arm from Mwaruwari - which left the luckless England centre-half with blood streaming from a cut just above his right eye.

The game was held up for several minutes, with Campbell eventually leaving the field to be patched up with surgical glue before getting back in the action.

Portsmouth pressed - but just as in the first half, they lacked quality delivery from the flanks.

The Gunners soon settled again, and as the hour mark approached, they forced a corner on the right.

The ball was sent over towards the far post, where Adebayor stood unmarked - but somehow managed to head wide.

And the Gunners were made to pay when Pompey levelled after 66 minutes.

A free-kick on the right from Andres D'Alessandro was whipped into the penalty area, where LuaLua got up ahead of Abou Diaby to flash the ball past Lehmann and breathe new life back into the match.

The Congo striker was then taken off, apparently after injuring his ankle during the celebrations, with Richard Hughes coming on for the final 20 minutes.

With the Fratton Park faithful now in full voice, the home side were spurred on.

However, it needed a good save from Kiely, denying Ljungberg at the near post with his legs, to earn Pompey what could be a precious point.

In stoppage time, Campbell left the field, his nose now dripping in blood, following an accidental clash with Todorov - as Arsenal's return trip to the south coast ended in disappointment.

Teams:

Portsmouth Kiely, Priske, Primus, Stefanovic, Taylor, O'Neil,Davis (Routledge 57), Pedro Mendes, D'Alessandro,LuaLua (Hughes 69), Mwaruwari (Todorov 66).

Subs Not Used: Ashdown, O'Brien.

Booked: Mwaruwari.

Goals: LuaLua 66.

Arsenal Lehmann, Djourou, Campbell (Eboue 89), Toure, Flamini,Ljungberg, Song Billong, Diaby, Reyes (Hleb 80), Henry,Adebayor (Van Persie 75).

Subs Not Used: Poom, Bergkamp.

Booked: Ljungberg.

Goals: Henry 36.

Att: 20,230

Ref: U Rennie (S Yorkshire).