By Paul Fletcher
**Arsenal conceded a stoppage-time goal in the Champions League as David Mendes da Silva struck to snatch a point that Dutch side AZ Alkmaar hardly deserved.**Cesc Fabregas had put Arsenal ahead from close range while AZ keeper Sergio Romero made several good saves, particularly from Robin van Persie.
But Abou Diaby deflected a cross off his chest and on to the woodwork while Hector Moreno missed from close range.
Mendes Da Silva then superbly volleyed home from Graziano Pelle’s knock-down.
The equaliser was harsh on Arsenal, who despite the absence of the likes of Tomas Rosicky and Theo Walcott seemed to have the measure of their opponents for the vast majority of the match.
But their failure to score the decisive second goal during an opening 70 minutes that they dominated was punished when Ronald Koeman’s team struck.
Alkmaar had failed to muster a single shot on target in the opening half, although Gunners keeper Vito Mannone, preferred to the fit-again Manuel Almunia, did have to be alert to cover a vicious strike from Mounir El Hamdaoui that flew narrowly over his crossbar.
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The Gunners, who were looking for their third straight win in Group H, should have opened the scoring inside 10 minutes when a cross from Diaby picked out an unmarked Van Persie, who cut inside Stijn Schaars but saw his subsequent shot saved.
There was a low-key feel to the game although the impressive Andrey Arshavin shot over from a tight angle minutes before capitalising on a mistake from Niklas Moisander in the build up to the opening goal.
The Finnish defender was caught in possession by Arshavin, who played in Van Persie down the left. The Dutch forward looked well placed to shoot but selflessly squared the ball for Fabregas to slot home.
Argentine international keeper Romero was almost embarrassed before the break when he tried to punch clear a powerfully Van Persie that swerved through the air. Thankfully for Romero the ball skimmed off his gloves and deflected narrowly wide of his goal.
Romero denied Van Persie again after the break but there was nothing fortunate about this save as the keeper dived to his left to stop a free-kick that the forward had whipped around the wall with plenty of pace.
The match looked more like a training game than a high-intensity European tie and as the game reached the hour mark Arsenal appeared to be in complete control.
However, AZ substitute Pelle seemed to have a positive effect on the home team and the Dutch side almost levelled when Diaby inadvertently guided a cross against the woodwork.
Moreno was then left completely unmarked from Schaars free-kick but missed the target from six yards.
AZ suddenly looked a team transformed - although Arsenal should still have had the opportunity to seal the win when Moussa Dembele appeared to foul substitute Carlos Vela inside the AZ area but referee Martin Hansson opted against awarding a penalty.
And a brilliant finish from Mendes Da Silva, who smashed a header across goal from Pelle into the roof of the net, ensured a miserable end to the evening for Arsene Wenger and his team.