Danny Welbeck fired home a 91st-minute equaliser as Arsenal rescued a late 2-2 draw at home to Hull City this afternoon.

The hosts moved the ball quickly from the first whistle and Jack Wilshere almost finished off a slick fifth-minute move that he started from deep, but the midfielder headed wide from Alexis Sanchez's cutback.

Michael Dawson reminded the hosts of Hull's threat from set pieces with a header that was easily held by Wojciech Szczesny, but Arsenal saw plenty more chances come their way, with Welbeck firing at Steve Harper before the veteran goalkeeper acrobatically prevented Santi Carzola's dipping 25-yard strike from nestling in the top corner.

The hosts were a joy to watch in the opening quarter of an hour, and Sanchez gave them the goal that they deserved in the 14th minute as he bamboozled Curtis Davies before rifling a low shot into the far corner.

However Hull responded with a goal of their own which Arsenal felt should not have been allowed to stand.

Mohamed Diame surged forward from midfield and, although he seemed to have lost the ball to Mathieu Flamini, the Senegal international muscled his way past his opponent and sent a delicate ship over the onrushing Szczesny for his fourth goal in five games.

Arsene Wenger and his players were left incensed that a free kick was not given for a tug on Flamini, with Diame having blatantly dragged the Frenchman aside shortly before his clever finish.

The equaliser seemed to knock the stuffing out of the hosts, who were subdued for the remainder of the half and then shocked 40 seconds after the restart when Abel Hernandez rose above a static Per Mertesacker to hand Hull the lead for the first time in the game.

The free-flowing Arsenal football of the opening 15 minutes gave way to a predictable build-up which Hull found easy to contain on the whole, despite the introduction of Aaron Ramsey, who came on as a second-half substitute following a spell on the sidelines.

Dawson hobbled off with seven minutes remaining after a series of valiant blocks and substitute Hull goalkeeper Eldin Jakupovic denied Sanchez late on as it appeared as though Hull would hold on to secure all three points.

However, Sanchez meandered through the visiting defence in stoppage time before teeing up Welbeck, who slotted home to give Arsenal a share of the spoils and a fifth draw of the Premier League season.