Arsenal 1-1 Dinamo Kiev

William Gallas rescued Arsenal in their first Champions League stage 1 game against Dinamo Kiev with a late goal in the 88th minute. The Ukrainians took an early lead from the penalty spot. Afterwards, captain William Gallas confessed that the Gunners must improve quickly if they are to progress further in this season's competition.

Arsenal started brightly and just three minutes in Theo Walcott cut in off the right flank and fed a superb ball through to Robin van Persie, with keeper Stanislav Bogush forced into a block at his near post.

Emmanuel Adebayor should have opened the scoring 19 minutes in as a defensive error allowed him to take on and beat the last defender.

However, the Togo international somehow missed the target with a right-foot shot from just inside the area with Bogush rooted to the spot.

After that miss the Gunners began to lose their way a little, with Dynamo starting to find their form and dominate possession.

But, with half-time approaching, Bacary Sagna found space down the right and played in van Persie, who rifled a right-foot shot inches wide of the near post.

Cesc Fabregas then passed up the best opportunity of the game so far, shooting straight at Bogush from ten yards after fine set-up play by Adebayor and van Persie.

Early in the second half Dynamo came within inches of taking the lead when Roman Eremenko found space on the right and his low shot struck the near post and hit the back of Manuel Almunia, before the Spanish keeper dived on the loose ball.

Just past the hour mark the home side were handed a perfect chance to break the deadlock when Sagna was penalised for hauling down Ognjen Vukojevic in the area.

Ismael Bangoura coolly converted from the spot, easily sending Almunia the wrong way.

The goal prompted the game to become far more open, with Dynamo looking likely to double their lead and make certain of the victory.

However, with time running out, Bangoura failed to play in a colleague when through two-on-one with the last Arsenal defender and he was made to pay for his error.

Adebayor picked up the ball and fed Walcott on the right and his ball to the far post was bundled home from close range by Gallas to rescue a point for Arsene Wenger's side.