Over the years since its inception, the Premier League has
played host to some fightbacks that you couldn't pay Hollywood's best writers to script.Newcastle United 4-4 Arsenal - February 5, 2011
...
Fresh in the memory but already being hailed as one of the Premier League's classic games, Arsenal looked to be home and dry after just 26 minutes as Theo Walcott and Johan Djourou scored before Robin van Persie struck twice as the Gunners raced into a four-goal lead.
It could have been more still, but Abou Diaby was sent off early in the second half, and when Joey Barton scored a penalty with just over 20 minutes remaining, the fightback was on.
Leon Best added a second and Barton converted another soft spot kick, before Cheick Tiote hit a thunderous drive three minutes from time to cap a marvellous comeback, proving there could yet be life after Andy Carroll - but sucking the life out of Arsenal's title challenge.
No team had ever been four goals down in a Premier League match and earned a point - until now.
Wigan Athletic 3-2 Arsenal - April 18, 2010
Arsenal are no strangers to this sort of thing, of course, and this capitulation against Wigan saw the Gunners' Premier League title challenge end last season, after a haphazard final 10 minutes.As against Newcastle, Arsenal took the lead through Walcott - though they had waited 41 minutes to do so - and looked comfortable as Mikael Silvestre added a second shortly after the half-time break.
But Wigan stirred as Ben Watson side-footed beyond Fabianski with 10 minutes to play, before the Pole spilled a regulation cross for Titus Bramble to nod home from close range.
Fabianski may have been at fault for Wigan's equaliser, but there was little he could do about the winner from Charles N'Zogbia, who curled in from outside the area a minute into stoppage time, leaving Arsene Wenger mystified.
Arsenal have since fallen victim to a similar turnaround as Tottenham secured a famous 3-2 victory at the Emirates earlier this season, while Spurs also notched a 4-4 draw against their north London rivals with a late Aaron Lennon strike at the beginning of Harry Redknapp's spell in charge.
Chelsea 2-3 Arsenal - October 23, 1999
Things haven't always gone against Arsenal when it comes to dramatic late comebacks though, as this meeting with Chelsea in 1999 proves.The hosts looked home and dry as the rain poured down at Stamford Bridge, with Tore Andre Flo and Dan Petrescu scoring headers and leaving Chelsea fans feeling confident of a victory with half an hour remaining.
Nwankwo Kanu had other ideas though, first striking in the 75th minute, before pulling the scores level eight minutes later, poking the ball past Dutch goalkeeper Ed De Goey.
Then, with seconds remaining, the Nigerian beat De Goey to a ball outside the Chelsea penalty area, controlled, and fired into the net from a narrow angle as Arsenal finished second in the table, but still some way behind Manchester United.
Tottenham Hotspur 3-5 Manchester United - September 29, 2001
United have form of their own in this realm, coming from behind to rescue victory from the jaws of defeat on several occasions since the inception of the Premier League, and none have been more astonishing than this remarkable win over Spurs.The home side had taken an unexpected and commanding lead into the interval after Dean Richards scored on his debut, before stalwart Les Ferdinand and former Germany international Christian Ziege further strengthened Tottenham's advantage.
But - most likely thanks to Sir Alex Ferguson's hairdryer - United were transformed after the break and wasted no time in asserting their dominance as Andy Cole headed a David Beckham cross past Neil Sullivan just a minute in, and further goals from Laurent Blanc, Ruud van Nistelrooy, Juan Sebastian Veron and Beckham himself turned humiliating defeat into a comprehensive rout.
Spurs have since led by two goals at Old Trafford, only to find themselves on the receiving end of another five at the hands of ruthless United.
Tottenham Hotspur 4-4 Aston Villa - October 1, 2007
White Hart Lane has never been a stranger to goals, so fitting then that on the club's 125 year anniversary celebration, the ground on Tottenham High Road should play host to an eight-goal thriller.The festivities got off to a flying start as Dimitar Berbatov headed Spurs in front, but Villa took a 3-1 lead into half time thanks to a Martin Laursen double and a Gabby Agbonlahor strike,
Craig Gardner added another with 30 minutes to play, but Pascal Chimbonda scored, Robbie Keane notched from the penalty spot and, in the closing stages, Younes Kaboul lashed home from inside the box to rescue a point, but it would not be enough to save manager Martin Jol, who was replaced by Juande Ramos shortly after.
Wolverhampton Wanderers 4-3 Leicester City - October 25, 2003
Perhaps less heralded than coming from a goal down to beat Manchester United on Saturday evening will be, but this was an equally thrilling comeback for Wolves against fellow basement battlers Leicester back in 2003.Les Ferdinand had scored twice in 15 minutes and set up Ricardo Scimeca for the Foxes' third after 35 minutes as the visitors looked to have secured a vital three points on the road to survival.
It wasn't to be for Micky Adams' side though, as Colin Cameron - now player/assistant manager at Cowdenbeath - netted a brace of his own, Alex Rae levelled, and Senegalese striker Henri Camara sealed the win from close range with just four minutes of normal time to play.
Wolves did not survive though and were relegated at the end of the season, level on points with bottom-placed Leicester and Leeds United.
Manchester City 2-3 Fulham - April 26, 2008
One team that did survive, thanks in no small part to a comeback, was Fulham, who picked up a hugely important win in their battle against relegation at Eastlands towards the end of the 2007-08 season.City went ahead after 21 minutes through Stephen Ireland and Benjani doubled the lead that they took into the interval, looking comfortable in the process.
A further 25 minutes of the second half passed before Diomansy Kamara fired through Joe Hart's legs to give Roy Hodgson's side hope.
Danny Murphy then saw a penalty saved but equalised with the rebound, before Kamara added his second and Fulham's third as the Cottagers stayed in the Premier League on goal difference by winning their remaining two games, at the expense of Reading.
Did we miss anything out? Goal.com UK wants to know what YOUR favourite Premier League comebacks are, so please leave us a comment below to let us know.
