Schalke 2-2 Arsenal

Arsenal's hopes of making the
Champions League knockout stages
remain in the balance after they
surrendered a 2-0 lead to Schalke to
draw 2-2.
The Gunners looked to be on course
for victory in Germany as first-half
goals from Theo Walcott and Olivier
Giroud put them in control.
But a Klaas-Jan Huntelaar strike just
before half-time gave Schalke hope
and they piled on the pressure after
the break and were rewarded for their
endeavours on 67 minutes by
Jefferson Farfan's equaliser.
It had all looked bright for Arsenal
midway through the first period. They
took the lead when a mistake by
Roman Neustadter allowed Giroud
through on goal and although skipper
Benedikt Howedes got back to take the
ball off the Frenchman's foot, Walcott
was on hand to pounce on the loose
ball.
Giroud doubled the lead on 26
minutes after his persistence saw him
feed Lukas Podolski and the French
international took advantage of slack
marking by the Germans to power a
header home.
Arsene Wenger's half-time team talk
was made more difficult in stoppage
time when Huntelaar fired home with
his left foot after a slip by Santi Cazorla
allowed Lewis Holtby to feed the
Dutchman to hammer beyond Vito
Mannone.
Giroud missed a great chance to
extend the visitors' lead within three
minutes of the restart but he made a
hash of his volley after more great
work down the left by Podolski.
He could have been made to pay for
his miss but Huntelaar failed to beat
Mannone when one on one with the
Arsenal keeper. The Italian also did well
to parry a deflected effort from
Jermaine Jones as Schalke pushed for
the equaliser.
The Germans had a huge shout for a
penalty on 54 minutes when a
goalbound shot from Howedes struck
Per Mertesacker on the arm but
referee Nicola Rizzoli waved away their
appeals.
However, the hosts were on level
terms when Thomas Vermaelen could
only deflect Farfan's far post effort into
his own net.
The final quarter of the game was very
much backs to the wall for the visitors
but they held out to claim a welcome
point with the Gunners' trip to Greece
to face Olympiakos - winners over
Montpellier - likely to prove pivotal.
They even had chance to snatch victory
at the death but Walcott was denied by
the legs of keeper Lars Unnerstall.