A well-deserved point at the Emirates

Was this going to be the day when we beat Arsenal at their place for the first time in our club's history? The omens were with us as Arsenal would need to rest several players before next week's return Champions League quarter final away to Real Madrid. Unfortunately no, but we did get a good 1-1 draw after going behind. Our defence played well although there were occasions that they failed to pick up an Arsenal player and we could/should have been punished. In the first half there were a few half chances for each side with an overlapping Ajer having a shot that Raya saved. Then Tierney 'scored' with a header that fortunately VAR rulled out for offside. Ajer then made a good block from a Martinelli shot, and Flekken (who inexplicably pushed a shot out for a corner when it was going well wide of the post) pulled off a full length save from an irritating and annoying Trossard. The first half ended goalless. We defended deeper in the second half giving Arsenal even more possession although we had the occasional breakaway attack. It was from one of these in the 61st minute that resulted in us getting a corner. This was collected by Raya who immediately threw it to Rice who advanced almost unchallenged into our half and passed it to Partey who smashed it past Flekken for the Gunners to take the lead. How many times have we conceeded or nearly conceeded a goal from our own corner! It was likely that they would get a second until the introduction of Kayode at right back. Since his loan from Fiorentina in January he had made, I think, two short appearance as substitute until he was injured. He was a breath of fresh air, overlapping down the right and preventing Arsenal getting in any crosses from their left. We had a breakaway attack on the right and instead of Mbeumo pulling it back for Damsgaard he passed it into the centre of the penalty area and it went out for a corner. Arsenal only partially cleared it and Kayode with another overlapping run on the right sent a beautifully weighted far post cross that Collins headed back into the 6-yard area for Wissa to swivel and score our equaliser in the 74th minute. Arsenal should have wrapped up the points when Flekken decided to try and control the ball with his feet on the edge of the penalty area when he could easily have let the ball roll into the area and pick it up. Saka nicked the ball from him and would have scored if it wasn't for Kayode preventing him from getting a shot away. In stoppage time the Bees introduced Nunes as a sub. Nunes was signed last August and this was the first time he had been on the pitch after a long term back injury. The game ended 1-1.