Arsenal draw 1-1 at lowly Portsmouth

LONDON, Apr 12 (Reuters) Arsenal were held to a 1-1 draw by relegation-threatened Portsmouth today as their hopes of finishing fourth in the Premier League suffered a blow.

The result left the European Cup semi-finalists four points behind north London rivals Tottenham Hotspur in the race for the final qualifying spot in next season's Champions League.

Arsenal moved up a place to fifth, above Blackburn Rovers on goal difference, while Portsmouth stay in the bottom three but climbed one spot to 18th level on points with Birmingham City.

Thierry Henry put Arsenal ahead after 36 minutes with a precise shot into the far corner but Lomana LuaLua equalised for Portsmouth in the 66th with a powerful header.

Henry showed his class with a fine goal from just outside the box with his right foot after dispossessing Sean Davis and playing a neat one-two with Emmanuel Adebayor.

The Togo striker should have got their second himself five minutes later when Henry returned the compliment with a pass that set him up in front of goal but Adebayor fluffed his shot.

CAMPBELL RETURNS Arsenal's Sol Campbell, playing for the first since storming out of Highbury on February 1, had to be treated for a cut eye after an accidental elbow by Benjani Mwaruwari just after the break.

Campbell was the first Englishman to play for Arsenal since his last appearance 13 games ago when he was substituted at halftime after a poor display in a 3-2 loss to West Ham United.

He was given compassionate leave after that match and then suffered ankle and toe injuries but the England hopeful managed a solid display on Wednesday on his return to the first team.

Adebayor contrived to miss another sitter just before the hour when he flashed a header wide from point-blank range after being left unmarked in front of goal at a corner.

Arsenal were made to pay for Adebayor's profligacy after 66 minutes when LuaLua headed powerfully past Jens Lehmann from a free kick on the right by midfielder Andres D'Alessandro.

The visitors pressed for the winner in the closing stages but could not find a way past Dean Kiely in the Portsmouth goal and had to settle for a draw in the re-arranged match.

After 33 games Spurs have 58 points while Arsenal are level on 54 with Blackburn. Portsmouth now have 29 points alongside Birmingham with both teams a point above West Bromwich Albion.

REUTERS SHR BD0324