Denilson 28        Osman 12

                                                                                        Rosicky 90 + 2   Pienaar 81

Two deflected goals saw Arsenal come from behind twice to snatch a fortunate point against a hugely impressive Everton side, Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger admitting later that the came was “closer to 3-1 than 2-2.”

The Toffees had lost 6-1 to Wenger’s men on the season’s opening day. But there was never any prospect of a repeat, as they took the game to their hosts from the off.

The conditions were not conducive to good football, especially in the second half, which was played in driving snow.

However, the sides served up a fine spectacle for the crowd who were able to make it to the Emirates Stadium - there were empty seats dotted all round the stadium, as season-ticket holders were unable to take up their place.

Everton’s Louis Saha had blazed an excellent chance over the crossbar before David Moyes’ men took a 12^th minute lead, the relatively diminutive Leon Osman leaping above two taller defenders to head home American debutant Landon Donovan’s outswinging right-wing corner.

Arsenal’s first decent move led to their 28^th minute equaliser, Eduardo setting up Denilson, whose shot from the edge of the box took a vital deflection off Osman which wrong-footed keeper Tim Howard.

As the snow got worse, the football got better. And both sides had chances before Everton restored their lead with an Arsenal-esque break on 81 minutes.

Steven Pienaar latched onto Tim Cahill’s wonderfully-weighted pass and raced clear from inside his own half before dinking the ball cheekily over the advancing Manuel Alumunia.

Substitute James Vaughan could have clinched it in the next attack as he was sent clear after Denilson collapsed in possession in the centre-circle. But Almunia saved Vaughan’s right-foot shot low to his left.

And in the 93^rd minute, influential substitute Tomas Rosicky equalised when his shot also took a vital deflection, off Lucas Neill, past the luckless Howard.