Mikel Arteta missed a penalty with the last kick of the game as Arsenal were held in a six-goal draw at the Emirates this afternoon.

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The visitors started brightly but it was Arsenal who took the lead when Olivier Giroud powerfully headed home Theo Walcott's corner at the near post.

Midway through the half the home side doubled their lead when Arteta squared for an unmarked Lukas Podolski to sweep home.

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Arsene Wenger's men were unable to maintain the two-goal advantage as Ruiz's corner was headed low into the net by Dimitar Berbatov six minutes later.

Fulham got back on level terms five minutes before the interval when substitute Alexander Kacaniklic, who had come on for the injured Kieran Richardson, met Berbatov's cross with a header into the corner.

Twenty minutes into the second half, Fulham were presented with the opportunity to complete the turnaround when Arteta brought down Ruiz. Berbatov stepped up and calmly slotted past Vito Mannone, who anticipated a penalty down the middle.

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They didn't stay ahead for long though, as the Gunners drew level thanks to the head of Giroud. The Frenchman initially hit the post before he met Walcott's cross to net the sixth of the game.

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Arsenal pushed for a winner and were rewarded with the opportunity from 12 yards when Sascha Riether was adjudged to have handled Andrey Arshavin's delivery.

However, Arteta was unable to score the winner as Schwarzer kept out the Spaniard with a flying save.