Gunners held by Palace

Arsenal drew 1-1 at Crystal Palace after Aki Riihilahti cancelled out Thierry Henry's goal.

The game came to life midway through the second-half with Henry finally breaking the deadlock after 63 minutes only for the home side to draw level just two minutes later.

And the Eagles wasted a glorious chance to record a fourth consecutive victory just a few moments later when sub Vassilis Lakis blasted over from five yards with the goal gaping.

The Gunners dominated the first-half territorily and in terms of possession but were unable to make the breakthrough against a well-organised home side.

Iain Dowie continued with five men across the midfield and his troops hustled and harried the Champions, limiting them on the whole to long-range shots.

The Gunners tested keeper Gabor Kiraly's handling on a number of occasions from outside the box but the Hungarian custodian was up to the task, holding on to Jose Reyes' early stinger and tipping Kolo Toure's long-range effort around the left post.

Henry did beat the keeper early on but his 18-yard snap shot was narrowly wide while Riihilahti made a crucial block to prevent Reyes' goalbound effort and the Finn was again on hand to turn away Henry's dangerous driven cross.

The Eagles failed to have an effort on goal in the opening period but Toure was forced to make a key interception to prevent Michael Hughes' pass finding Joonas Koolka in front of goal.

And Jens Lehmann hit what should have been a routine clearance straight at Andy Johnson but the ball ricocheted to safety.

Reyes continued to probe after the break and forced another fine save from Kiraly at his near post while Tony Popovic had to be alert to make an interception and deny Henry a clear sight of goal.

Arsene Wenger's men eventually got their reward when Freddie Ljungberg and Cesc Fabregas opened up Palace down the right and Henry smuggled in the Swede's cross from close range.

But the lead was shortlived as Palace scored from their first effort at goal.

Patrick Vieira was dispossesed in his own half and Lakis' well measured cross was prodded home by a lunging Riihilahti.

Palace's tails were up and Joonas Kolkka had an effort at goal blocked straight from the kick-off before the Greek's amazing miss after Johnson's driven cross had bisected the visitors' backline.

Wenger brought on Robin van Persie as the Gunners searched for a winner and Kiraly made yet another wonderful save to push the Dutchman's shot from the edge of the box around the right post.

And the former Hertha Berlin number one ensured Palace would extend their unbeaten run when he came off his line to block van Persie's lob and deny Arsenal a return to the top of the table.

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Team Name	Crystal Palace	Arsenal
Goals	1	1
Shots on target ( Inc Goals )	1	9
Shots off Target (inc woodwork)	2	6
Blocked Shots	0	4
Corners Won	1	8
Total Fouls Conceded	10	8
Offsides	6	0
Yellow Cards	0	1
Red Cards	0	0