Wise rescues Chelsea in last minute

DENNIS WISE rescued Chelsea's unbeaten record in the last minute, after Ian Wright came off the bench to score what looked like a 77th minute winner for an Arsenal side that had trailed 2-0.

It was a sensational end to a wonderful London derby that looked to have signalled a messy bursting of Ruud Gullit's bubble, with imperious sweeper Frank Leboeuf stretchered off with a back injury.

But his classy Continentals showed they also possess courage and, when substitute John Spencer slipped the ball through on the left, Wise dashed through to crash home a last gasp equaliser.

For bravery, though, few will match Arsenal. While the London giants give every impression at boardroom level of having already given up on the season as they wait for Frenchman Arsene Wenger to arrive from Japan, that is clearly not the mood in the dressing room.

Paul Merson threw them a lifeline on the half time whistle with the first goal Dmitri Kharine had conceded this season.

And in a one way second half that was all about Arsenal's determination to keep the rudderless ship off the rocks, skipper Martin Keown levelled with a towering header.

Wright joined the action in the 74th minute and it was surely in the stars, that he would make a significant impact. Racing onto Nigel Winterburn's forward ball four minutes later he shrugged off a tackle and braved Kharine's boots to lob into the gaping net.

It is all action with the former England striker and he was perhaps lucky not to be sent off for an off the ball elbowing retaliation on Steve Clarke, before the climax.

John Lukic made an emotional return between the Highbury sticks his first Arsenal appearance for six years after resigning on a free transfer from Leeds staking over from hamstring victim David Seaman.

But it was a comeback he will want to forget. He was beaten after only six minutes by Leboeuf's penalty after Steve Bould's scything tackle on Wise, as he tracked down the right hand side of the penalty area.

Gianluca Vialli and fellow Italian Roberto di Matteo sparkled but even the former Juventus striker will admit the second goal after 31 minutes was gift wrapped.

Brilliant footwork by Craig Burley, nutmegging Winterburn in a move started by Vialli's tackle, gave him room to attack through the middle and release the Italian to his right.

Vialli held off, Andy, Linighan and cracked arising right foot shot between the goalkeeper and his near post, the rocketing ball flying through appalled Lukic's grasp.

But Paul Merson started the fightback a minute and a half into added time. Winterburn hoisted a ball up to the edge of the area, Hartson flicked it on for Bergkamp to lay it wide and Mersons right foot shot flew low beyond Kharine's right hand.

And Chelsea started to buckle under constant pressure, Leboeuf booked for a foul on Bergkamp and hurt as he resisted a three on one break. It should been the equaliser but Bergkamp, the goal at his mercy from eight from Hartson's cross, hooked hit the bar.

With Michael Duberry on, they held out only for two more minutes before Martin Keown's 65th minute equaliser.

Merson played a short corner with Platt and curled a deep cross beyond the back post where the former England defender rose highest and thumped down a header which squirmed through the goalline defenders.