Late Phillips strike dents Gunners hopes

Kevin Phillips dented Arsenal's Barclays Premier League title hopes with a dramatic late equaliser for Birmingham in the 1-1 draw at St Andrew's.

Samir Nasri had come off the bench to fire the Gunners in front 10 minutes from time.

But Blues substitute Phillips enjoyed a stroke of luck in injury time as the ball looped off him and over Manuel Almunia.

Alex Song was yellow carded after 16 minutes for bringing down James McFadden and Joe Hart blocked a shot from Theo Walcott. Gael Clichy was then booked after 24 minutes for a foul on Craig Gardner before Cameron Jerome brought a save out of Almunia.

Arsenal started the second half on the offensive and Hart saved a drive from Tomas Rosicky away to his right.

Barry Ferguson only just failed to connect with a ball into the near post from Craig Gardner before City defender Scott Dann was guilty of one of the misses of the season on 63 minutes.

Ferguson's free-kick was met by Roger Johnson, whose shot back across goal at full stretch hit the post. The rebound fell to Dann barely two yards out but the ball flew over the bar off his thigh.

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger then made a double change with Nasri and Andrey Arshavin replacing Rosicky and Walcott.

Nasri broke the deadlock 10 minutes from time. He was allowed time to cut in from the right and his low drive flew past Hart into the far corner of the net.

But just as Arsenal looked set for a vital win, Phillips battled for the ball with Bacary Sagna, who kicked it into the the former Sunderland striker's face and Almunia could only get a hand to it as it ballooned into the net for a dramatic late equaliser.