Robin van Persie gave the Gunners the lead against the run of play three minutes before the break, but Arsene Wenger's men looked more comfortable in the second half and it took a wonder strike substitute Ivan Perisic to level things two minutes from time.

"We were under a lot of pressure in the second half," Szczesny told Sky Sports 4. "Sometimes they go in and you take that. I didn't move. I believe I had no chance.

"We showed on Saturday against Swansea that we know how to play football, we know how to win games. Today was a very tough fixture but I think we can be happy."

Szczesny felt the absence of Wenger, who was serving a touchline ban, from the dressing room and the bench did not harm the Gunners too much.

"Pat Rice did a great job," he said. "He's got the ability to motivate the team, he shouts a lot and he got us going."

Defender Bacary Sagna added: "Pat Rice did well. He gave us lot of advice and I think we tried to apply it on the pitch.

"It's a good point. They're a good team, they did well last year. We were expecting this type of game and we got it."