Walcott on target as Gunners draw
Theo Walcott responded to Arsene Wenger’s call to arms but Arsenal could only draw 1-1 with Hungarian outfit Szombathelyi Haladas at the Haladas VSE Stadium.
The hosts took a deserved lead in the 25th minute when former Hungary international striker Krisztian Kenesei broke through a static Gunners defence and chipped delicately over the on-rushing Manuel Almunia.
Justin Hoyte believed he had hooked the ball clear on the line but he was over-ruled by the assistant referee.
To rub salt into the defender’s wounds, he then sliced a volley over from five yards just minutes later with the goal gaping.
But Arsenal equalised in the 42nd minute when Walcott – urged by manager Wenger to stake his claim for a regular place this season – rifled the ball home.
The former Southampton forward collected Nicklas Bendtner’s short pass and, from a position to the right of goal, slammed an 18-yard low shot across the goalkeeper and into the back of the net off the far post.
An inexperienced Arsenal team struggled create chances after the break although Gael Clichy fired a free-kick narrowly over with 12 minutes left.
