A dramatic last-minute own goal from Pepe Reina saved Arsenal from defeat against Liverpool at Anfield in a pulsating match that saw both sides have a player sent off.
Reina fumbled the ball into his own net after it came back off the near post from a Marouane Chamakh header, cancelling out David Ngog's 47th minute opener.
But it was harsh on hard-working Liverpool who had managed to survive the entire second half with only 10 men after Joe Cole was sent off on his Barclays Premier League debut for the Reds, following a lunging challenge on Arsenal defender Laurent Koscielny on 45 minutes.
It was at best a foolish and impetuous challenge and although Liverpool complained about the decision it left referee Martin Atkinson with little choice but to show a red card.
The decision seemed to galvanise Roy Hodgson's side, however, and within two minutes of the second half the 10 men were ahead, Ngog turning in the box and firing a stunning, rising shot into the roof of Arsenal's net.
Ngog was only playing because first choice Fernando Torres is not yet fully match fit but he was Liverpool's most lively attacker against an Arsenal side missing Cesc Fabregas because of a chest infection.
Teenager Jack Wilshere, who made his debut for England in midweek, took Fabregas' place but Liverpool showed fantastic spirit and determination to keep Arsenal's 11 men at bay in the second half.
The closest the Gunners came to equalising was from a Theo Walcott free-kick that was spectacularly saved by Reina.
Then the Liverpool keeper made an even more dramatic stop to keep out Thomas Rosicky's 86th minute curler.
Eventually Arsenal's pressure paid off when Reina couldn't deal with Chamakh's later header - but even then Manuel Almunia had to make a flying save to deny Steven Gerrard.
Arsenal then had a man sent off themselves when defender Koscielny, also making his Premier League debut for the Gunners, earned two yellow cards in the space of a few minutes - the second for handball with the final whistle was about to blow.
Ironically, Koscielny had been the victim in the challenge which saw Cole shown the red card.