Arsenal vs Birmingham 1-1 Goal Highlights 12-01-2008

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Goals: Adebayor 24' (pen) - O'Connor 48'

Garry O'Connor put a dent in Arsenal's Premier League title ambitions as his equaliser earned Birmingham a shock 1-1 draw at the Emirates stadium on Saturday.

The Scotland striker pounced in the 48th minute to cancel out Emmanuel Adebayor's penalty and stop Arsene Wenger's side establishing a five-point lead over Manchester United, who play Newcastle in Saturday's late game.

It was only the second time this season Arsenal have dropped points on home soil and Wenger's haunted look on the touchline was understandable. With United in imperious form and Birmingham wallowing in the division's nether reaches, this was a game Arsenal simply had to win.

They had started purposefully enough. Wenger's young charges forced five corners in the first 10 minutes and it took less than 120 seconds for Eduardo to flash an effort wide of the right-hand post.

While Manuel Almunia was forced into a fine save from Cameron Jerome's skidding low shot, that was an aberration in a first half utterly dominated by the hosts.

Only profligate finishing prevented a deluge. Eduardo had another excellent chance in the 18th minute when he was picked out by Alexander Hleb's precise cross. The Croatian had just to direct his header out of Maik Taylor's reach, but instead he planted the ball straight into the goalkeeper's chest.

Birmingham's respite was temporary. Two minutes later, a slick one-two between Eduardo and Hleb ended with the former Dinamo Zagreb forward bursting into the six-yard box.

The backtracking Stephen Kelly desperately stretched out a leg but, while he connected cleanly with the ball, he only did so by coming through the back of his opponent and that was enough for Phil Dowd, the referee, to award a penalty. Adebayor converted with ease and Arsenal were ahead.

A half-time lead was fair reward for Arsenal's performance. By their inflated standards, Wenger's team have been laboured in recent weeks but this was a delightfully slick display - all canny reverse passes and intricate back-heels - and the home fans settled down for the second half licking their lips in anticipation of a rout.

They were in for a shock. Three minutes after the interval, Sebastian Larsson - a former Arsenal trainee - swung over a corner from the left and O'Connor's header deflected off Cesc Fabregas' boot and bounced into the net.

Arsenal were stunned. O'Connor's goal ensured Birmingham had something tangible to protect and they did so manfully. Liam Ridgewell threw his body in the way of another Adebayor effort while Damien Johnson - wearing a protective mask after returning from a fractured skull - did likewise as Fabregas pulled the trigger.

The hosts' desperation increased as the seconds ebbed away. Nicklas Bendtner, on as a substitute, shot wide as Arsenal laid siege yet, for all their territorial dominance, Taylor remained relatively unflustered and the Emirates was emptying long before the final whistle.

Arsenal: Almunia, Sagna (Diaby 83'), Senderos, Gallas, Clichy, Walcott (Bendtner 65'), Fabregas, Flamini, Hleb, Eduardo, Adebayor.

Birmingham: Maik Taylor, Kelly, Ridgewell, Schmitz, Queudrue (Parnaby 61'), Larsson, Muamba, Johnson, Kapo, O'Connor (Forssell 75'), Jerome (McSheffrey 75').