By Mandeep Sanghera
William Gallas salvaged a draw for Arsenal with a last-gasp goal in their Champions League opener at Dynamo Kiev.
Gallas poked in from point-blank range at the far post after a low cross from man-of-the-moment Theo Walcott.
The goal cancelled out a harsh penalty for Kiev when Bacary Sagna was punished for bringing down Ognjen Vukojevic and Ismael Bangoura slotted in.
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Gallas's 88th minute effort also saved an embarrassing defeat for Arsenal who have consistently suffered on trips to the former Soviet Union.
Kiev have not won a Champions League game for four years, while they lost each of their six games in the competition last season.
And, even though Arsenal's record did little to inspire, the visitors started passing the ball about with confidence and purpose.
They worked an early chance when Walcott cut inside from the right flank and slid Van Persie through on goal.
The Dutch striker's angled effort was blocked by keeper Stanislav Bogush during an opening period where Kiev appeared to give their rivals too much respect.
The home side almost gifted the Gunners the lead when a Roman Eremenko backpass went straight to Adebayor.
He evaded two defenders as he ran through on goal only to curl a 15-yard shot disappointingly wide.
Although Kiev gradually improved, they got little change out of the visitors' defence as they lacked the creativeness to threaten a goal.
Arsenal did have the flair and created a number of chances but were missing a clinical edge.
Sagna pulled a low cross back to Van Persie at the near post and he could only find the side-netting with a powerful shot.
Fabregas was next to spurn a gilt-edged opportunity as he latched on to a Van Persie knock back and should have done better than to bounce a shot straight into the keeper's arms from eight yards.
Kiev almost punished Arsenal's profligacy after the break when Eremenko's angled drive came back off the near post before the Gunners cleared.
Arsenal were coming under more pressure and conceded a penalty which appeared more than generous in favour of Kiev.
Vukojevic seemed to be doing as much pulling and pushing as Sagna at the far post but it was the Gunners right-back who was penalised.
Bangoura nonchalantly rolled in the penalty to his right as he sent Manuel Almunia the wrong way.
The already fervent crowd were sparked into a greater frenzy as they urged on their side.
A now-inspired Kiev rode the wave of noise at the 17,000 capacity Valeriy Lobanovskyi stadium and Bangoura shot into the side-netting against a rattled Arsenal.
But the visitors rescued a point when Gallas was on hand to equalise after Adebayor failed to get the telling touch to a Walcott cross.
BBC Sport Player Rater man of the match: Theo Walcott on 7.42 (on 90 minutes).
Please note that you can still give the players marks out of 10 on BBC Sport's Player Rater after the match has finished.
(BBC)
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