LONDON (Sporting Alert) — Manchester City and Arsenal played to a 2-2 draw in their English Premier League clash at Emirates Stadium on Saturday.
The Gunners were seven minutes away from claiming all three points on the day, but Arsene Wenger side was forced to share the points after conceding from a set-piece.
Arsenal dominated the opening play of the game but failed to score a goal, with new recruit Danny Welbeck missing a glorious chance to score on debut after hitting the post with a chipped shot when City keeper Joe Hart was well beaten.
Manchester City got into the game as the minutes ticked on and Manuel Pellegrini side took the lead from almost nothing.
Arsenal gave the ball away in midfield, which allowed Jesus Navas to burst down the right side before putting in a well weighted cross for Sergio Aguero to beat the out-rushing Wojciech Szczesny in the 28th minute.
David Silva almost made it 2-0 four-minutes later, but the Spanish international saw his shot blocked by the leg of Szczesny.
mc1 by footballhighlightchannel
Arsenal did grab an equalizer with a beautiful goal from Jack Wilshere after he and Aaron Ramsey combined well for the 63rd minute leveller.
And it was the Gunners who went ahead through Alexis Sanchez, who beat Szczesny after Wilshere headed on an assist in the 74th minute.
With seven minuted to go in the goal, defender Martin Demichelis collected the equalizer for the visitors when he headed home a rocket which went into the top corner from a corner kick.
I think we showed great character to come back from 1-0 down against such a great team,” Wilshere said. “But at 2-1 up we are disappointed not to win.”
“I think we should great character to come back against such a great team,” Wilshere told BT Sport. “But once we took the lead we should have held on.”
Arsenal handed a debut to deadline day signing Danny Welbeck, who signed from Manchester United, while Frank Lampard start for Manchester City.
Aaron Ramsey also passed a fitness test to start for Arsenal, but Yaya Toure misses out for Manchester City after he only returned from international duty on Friday.
Arsenal v Manchester City
Arsenal: Szczesny, Debuchy, Mertesacker, Koscielny, Monreal, Flamini, Sanchez, Ramsey, Wilshere, Ozil, Welbeck. Subs: Gibbs, Arteta, Podolski, Ospina, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Cazorla, Chambers
Manchester City: Hart, Zabaleta, Kompany, Demichelis, Clichy, Fernandinho, Lampard, Jesus Navas, Silva, Milner, Aguero. Subs: Sagna, Nasri, Dzeko, Kolarov, Sinclair, Caballero, Mangala
Referee: Mark Clattenburg (Tyne & Wear)
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