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Match Report
Portsmouth v Arsenal 04 May 2004
GUNNERS FIGHT BACK FOR DRAW
Portsmouth 1-1 Arsenal
Arsenal are just two games away from going through the season unbeaten in the league after battling back from a goal down to draw with Portsmouth.
Yakubu Aiyegbeni had Pompey in front on 30 minutes, but they were unable to prevent a determined Arsenal side from extending their unbeaten run as Jose Antonio Reyes secured a point on 50 minutes.
The Gunners have been head and shoulders above the chasing pack all season and secured the title last month. Pompey, though, seem to have the tools at their disposal to test Arsenal as only a late Thierry Henry penalty earned The Gunners a draw at Highbury in September.
For long spells on Tuesday, Arsenal were second best but they dug deep and a point was just reward for their second half display.
Yakubu and Tresor Lomana Lua Lua were particularly lively for Pompey, with the former testing Jens Lehmann with a low shot and the latter shooting wide after making a mug of Sol Campbell.
It took Arsenal 20 minutes to fashion a chance, but Ray Parlour's speculative effort flew high over the bar. Reyes then shot wide on the volley following good link play with Thierry Henry.
Reyes came even closer on 29 minutes, as his effort from the edge of the area crashed against the bar after brushing the shoulder of Campbell on its way through.
Minutes later, though, Arsenal were behind as Yakubu poked a low shot past Lehmann after the ball fell fortuitously into his path off of Kolo Toure.
Arsenal were almost on level terms three minutes later, but Shaka Hislop produced a fantastic block with his foot from Henry.
The Gunners turned up the heat after the interval and, moments after Hislop had tipped an Henry effort onto the bar, they were level.
Henry did not retreat into his shell after being denied as he showed great play down the left and it was his half-cleared cross which was slammed home from the edge of the box by the alert Reyes.
Reyes could and probably should have had Arsenal in front on 53 minutes, but he scooped an effort over the bar when faced with just Hislop to beat.
Pompey were rarely seen as an attacking force in the second half, but Yakubu should have ended Arsenal's unbeaten run but he shot straight at Lehmann when clean through.
The German keeper was in action once again on 81 minutes - diving acrobatically to parry Dejan Stefanovic's free kick as Pompey threatened an upset.
Report From  , For full report and stats, click here.
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