ROBIN VAN PERSIE struck with a wonderful free-kick to salvage a point for Arsenal at home yesterday.

Tim Cahill fired Everton into an early lead and the Merseysiders dug in to defend it. They were within 20 minutes of an heroic win when Van Persie curled a leftfooter past Tim Howard.

Arsenal started brightly with the elegant Johan Djourou striding out of defence with the ball in the second minute.

He traded passes with Henry and appeared to be clipped by Phil Neville as he cut through the penalty area.

But referee Mike Riley ignored the penalty appeals and awarded a corner.

The Gunners had slipped neatly into their rhythm but were stunned in the 10th minute when the visitors grabbed the lead with a controversial goal from Mikel Arteta's outswinging corner.

Tim Cahill timed his run perfectly. He sprang up to head Arteta's cross but lost the flight of the ball in the air and it seemed to strike his hand.

Cahill reacted in a flash, smashing the loose ball into the roof of the net and wheeling away to celebrate. Arsenal claimed handball but referee Riley gave the goal.

Cahill then gave Arsenal's back-four the slip again and almost snatched a second goal against the run of play.

Arteta delivered a quick freekick from midfield and Cahill was the only player to react.

He lunged forward but could not quite reach the pass.

Henry thought he had found the equaliser in the first minute after the restart.

The Arsenal skipper climbed high in the goalmouth to head Rosicky's cross down towards the bottom corner. It looked a certain goal but Howard sprang to his left and turned the effort around the post with his fingertips. Moments later and Howard was beaten by Rosicky's curler from 25 yards but the effort was inches too high.

The visitors were under siege and protecting their goal any way they could.

But Arsenal finally got on level terms in the 71st minute when Van Persie curled in a superb free-kick from the edge of the area, which Howard got a hand to but could not stop from going into the net. The Gunners sensed the three points.

Wenger sent on Aliadiere and he went close with a header from a corner in the 80th minute but neither side could claim the win as Everton boss Moyes was sent from the touchline for arguing with referee Riley.