Crystal Palace - 1 Arsenal - 1: Only a few weeks ago in the League of One, otherwise known as the Premiership, the appliance of science seemed the sole preserve of Arsene Wenger's Arsenal. But there is more than one thinking man in the game and Iain Dowie's calculations ensured that Crystal Palace and supposedly superior beings inhabited the same earth on Saturday evening.
This is not so surprising given that Dowie once applied his mind to aerospace problems. Some references to rocket science do not apply, however, since Palace didn't resort to the launch-and-hope approach. Rather, a well-conceived plan applied with extraordinary energy helped to remove Arsenal from the summit of the league for the first time since January.
Dowie's preparations for Arsenal extended beyond tactics, however, as he employed a motivational tool that would not be many purists' choice. The Rumble in the Jungle aka Ali v Foreman - was screened for the benefit of Palace's squad on Friday.
A vivid demonstration indeed of how to effectively absorb punishment and then counter a drained opponent.
Whether they liked it or not, Palace had to roll with the punches here. Though tired and unusually laboured at times, Arsenal still delivered enough shots to have won. Nine on target - against Palace's one - tells a story of waste as well of Gabor Kiraly's prowess as the goalkeeper gave one of several outstanding home individual performances.
Arsenal cannot tell a hard-luck story, even if their frustration was plain to see. On the issue of scoring, Wenger conceded that "the goals are not coming as regularly as we are used to".
He used a spoilt brat analogy. "It's like a child who is used to having ice cream whenever he wants. When it doesn't come when he asks, he tends to get confused and nervous."
By Arsenal's standards, this was the plainest vanilla. Thierry Henry's touch eventually deserted him, partly due to Mikele Leigertwood and Emmerson Boyce's close attentions, and Robert Pires consistently gave the ball away.
The French midfielder's inaccuracy can only be partly explained by the mass of Palace bodies he confronted in the central area.
On the basis of waste not, want not, Arsenal again surrendered a lead - this time after two minutes 10 seconds - leaving Wenger "disappointed" and "surprised".
Maybe the speed of Palace's equaliser confounded him, for Arsenal have now been hauled back three times in a week.
Wenger has now overseen one win - in the League Cup - in six matches. It is a stuttering spell that all teams have, he claimed. "We are a bit less sharp physically," he said, reasoning that mental fatigue is an inevitable accompaniment.
He can only hope that the acrimonious defeat at Manchester United has seen Arsenal's reservoir of confidence drip and not drain away.
"Perhaps there is still a hangover from Old Trafford, I'm not sure," he said before admitting that occasion was a shock: "After 49 (unbeaten) games, you're not used to it."
Premiership teams should get used to the idea of Palace being competitive, tactically and physically. Dowie deployed a 4-1-4-1 formation with the inexhaustible Andy Johnson as sole striker and changed to 4-4-2 after the break. His team's commitment to both systems, mentally and physically, was total. Dowie's satisfaction was absolute.
"We defended doggedly in the first half and then we showed we can play and pass in the second," he said.
No one typified Palace's effort more than Aki Riihilahti, Arsenal's tormentor in chief in midfield, ably assisted by Ben Watson. When the Finn ventured forward after 65 minutes, it was to resounding effect as he stretched to volley in Vassilis Lakis's beautifully chipped pass.
Arsenal were still in shock when Johnson's fast cross skidded towards the on-rushing Lakis. Any touch looked sure to suffice but, from three yards, the ball was propelled over by the outside of the right foot for one of the misses of the season.
Fortunately for Arsenal, Henry had not missed the unmissable when presented with similar opportunity after an incisive interchange between Freddie Ljungberg and Cesc Fabregas. Henry forced the ball home for one of his scruffier goals. But 1-0 to the Arsenal is a rarity these days.
