Cole 74                      Robin van Persie 16

                                                                                        Diamanti (pen) 80     Gallas 37

West Ham defied pre-match, and half-time, expectations to recover from two goals down against a seemingly in-control Arsenal, and snatch the unlikeliest of draws.

Arsene Wenger’s men had long been on cruise control, having taken a two-nil lead and comfortably kept the Hammers at bay.

But they were unable to shake themselves back into gear when Carlton Cole pulled a goal back on 74 minutes. And within six minutes their lead had disappeared when substitute Alessandro Diamanti converted from the spot. The visitors were the brighter side from the start of a refreshingly open game.

And Robin Van Persie had already signalled his threat by the time he gave the Gunners a 16^th minute lead, Hammers keeper Robert Green misjudging a Bacary Sagna cross and allowing the Dutchman a simple left-foot finish.

West Ham played their trademark neat, passing game but were undone at the back again on 37 minutes, William Gallas heading powerfully home from Van Persie’s left-wing corner.

Cesc Fabregas was inches from making it 3-0 shortly after the break with a searing long-range effort inches past Green’s left-hand post.

And while West Ham were given more purpose by the introductions of Diamanti and Zavon Hines, there was no sense that a comeback was on the cards.

But on 74 minutes, Diamanti’s free-kick from the edge of the box was only parried by Arsenal keeper Vito Mannone into Cole’s path and the England striker bundled the ball home.

Then, with ten minutes on the clock, Alexandre Song clumsily fouled Cole in the box and Diamanti confidently swept the resultant penalty past Mannone’s left-hand.

Hammers midfielder Scott Parker was sent to the line after a harshly awarded second yellow card.

And his colleagues had to be grateful to Green, who redeemed himself for his error on the first goal with a tremendous save from Van Persie’s stoppage-time header.