ARSENAL 2, Wanderers 1.

LUCKLESS Wanderers were beaten by a last-gasp goal for the second week running as they went down valiantly to the Champions in dramatic fashion at Highbury.

Kanu prodded home the Arsenal winner in the third minute of overtime to deny Sam Allardyce's injury-ravaged squad a point that never seemed likely as they fought a brave

rearguard action made doubly difficult when Ivan Campo was sent off 10 minutes from time for a second bookable offence.

But for more than half an hour, Wanderers frustrated Arsenal after Gareth Farrelly fluked a goal a minute into the second half.

The Dubliner, making his first appearance of the season, left David Seaman embarrassed when his deep left wing cross sailed over the England keeper and dropped just inside the

far post.

The goal cancelled out Thierry Henry's 25th minute strike when Arsenal were at the height of their dominance.

Wanderers rode their luck as they fought a rearguard action and relied on good saves from Jussi Jaaskelainen - one from a point-blank header from substitute Toure - as Arsenal

tried to press home their one-man advantage after Campo's dismissal,

But, just as they felt hard done by when beaten 3-2 at the Reebok by Liverpool seven days earlier, they did not deserve what was to come, although Allardyce laid much of the

blame for the defeat on Campo who, after being booked for dissent in the eighth minute, was ordered off for throwing the ball away.

"I have no doubt we'd have held out for the draw if he hadn't been sent off." the manager said.

Arsenal: Seaman, Lauren, Keown, Campbell, Cole, Wiltord, Parlour, Gilberto, Ljungberg, Kanu, Henry. Subs; Jeffers for Wiltord 68 mins, Bergkamp for Ljungberg 68 mins, Toure for

Lauren 84 mins. Not used: Luzhny, Shaaban.

Wanderers: Jaaskelainen, Barness, Bergsson, Whitlow, Charlton, Frandsen, Campo, Farrelly, Djorkaeff, Holdsworth, Pedersen. Subs: Ricketts for Pedersen 45 mins, Okocha for

Holdsworth 65 mins, Tofting for Djorkaeff 81 mins. Not used: Livesey, Poole.

Referee: David Pugh (Merseyside).

Attendance: 37,974.