ARSENAL signalled their determination to fight Manchester United all the way for the Premier League crown with a dramatic stoppage-time equaliser from captain William Gallas in the 2-2 draw at Emirates Stadium yesterday.

Cristiano Ronaldo's goal with eight minutes remaining looked set to send the champions back to the top of the league and ending the Gunners' unbeaten run, which had stretched back 24 matches before this top-of-the-table encounter.

However, this Arsenal side . . . who first drew level when Cesc Fabregas equalised after Wayne Rooney's scuffed shot was deflected home by Gallas for the opener . . . do not know when they are beaten, it seems, and so it proved when the Gunners' skipper made amends for his own goal and volleyed in at the far post to keep Arsene Wenger's men on top.

Despite the early kick-off, . . .12.45 to appease the telvision people . . . the atmosphere inside 60,000-seater Emirates Stadium was electric . . . and the next 93 minutes did not disappoint. It was a bright start to the much-anticipated match, with some slick passing on display from Wenger's men and little quarter given by United in the tackle.

After eight minutes, Ronaldo saw his downward header come back off the post following a left-wing corner, but eagle-eyed referee Howard Webb had spotted a push by the United midfielder on marker Tomas Rosicky. At the other end, Emmanuel Adebayor timed his jump all wrong to send a cross from Gael Clichy over the bar.

Following an Arsenal freekick after 16 minutes, United broke quickly through Ronaldo down the right. Captain Ryan Giggs should have done better when arriving at the far post to meet the eventual low cross, but could only stab the ball wide from a yard out.

Alex Ferguson was out of his dug-out when a decision went against Patrice Evra, for kicking into the back of Emmanuel Eboue, and was quick to give attending fourth official Alan Wiley a piece of his mind as well as the referee. In the 23rd minute, Giggs tried his luck from just outside the area, but the ball was always rising over the bar.

Despite Arsenal having seen plenty of possession, with 30 minutes almost on the clock, the home side had not yet tested Edwin van der Sar. Alexander Hleb's run down the right on the counter attack was checked by Anderson, six yards from the edge of the area. Fabregas whipped the resulting freekick into the six-yard box, where Gallas met it with a bullet header, only to be denied by the legs of the United keeper.

United snatched the lead in first-half stoppage time. Wes Brown looked to have bundled Hleb off the ball before he slipped in Ronaldo down the right. The low cross was met by Wayne Rooney at the near post, and his scuffed shot deflected up off the diving Gallas and past Almunia into the net.

Arsenal's response was immediate, as they drew level just three minutes into the second half. Eboue floated the ball over from the right and into the penalty area, where Adebayor had time his run perfectly. Van der Sar was out quickly to block the Togo striker's volleyed effort.

However, the loose ball broke to Bacary Sagna, who squared it back to Fabregas.

The young Spaniard set himself before drilling in his 11th goal of the season from 12 yards.

United were clearly shocked by the equaliser, and the Gunners were soon back on the offensive again with a sustained period of pressure.

After 57 minutes, Anderson and Owen Hargreaves bundled over Hleb just outside the United penalty area. Fabregas cleverly sent a low shot under the jumping wall, but Van der Sar was across to make a comfortable save.

Slowly, the champions began to find their own rhythm again. A fine interchange between Rooney and Giggs set up the England forward with a free header 12 yards out, but for once he was well off target.

Following a quick counter attack, Eboue weaved his way into the United penalty area and fed Hleb, who made space before ballooning an effort horribly wide.

United went back in front when substitute Louis Saha fed Evra, who skipped into the right side of the box, drew Almunia and cut the ball back for Ronaldo . . . who could not miss. Arsenal pressed for an equaliser, which almost came when Evra spooned the ball onto his own bar.

Just when it looked United were set to take the spoils and record a ninth straight league win, Arsenal forced in a dramatic stoppage goal when Gallas struck at the far post . . . the ball having been palmed away by Van der Sar from behind the line.

The Arsenal captain was delighted with the fightback when speaking to the meida afterwards. "We had to fight, " he said. "We said if we had to die we would die together on that field. In the first half we tried to play football but it was not really easy. We played very tight. It was difficult for us to find good space. We conceded a goal . . . maybe I was a little too late but that is football."