NBC on Yahoo SportsPremier League Highlights: Arsenal, Man City draw
Arsenal and Manchester City played out an entertaining 2-2 draw at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday, as a pulsating clash between two title contenders dished up a treat.
The Gunners fell behind in the first half after Sergio Aguero gave City the lead, however Jack Wilshere and Alexis Sanchez both scored stunning goals in the second half to put Arsenal ahead. However, Martin Demichelis headed home in the 83rd minute to rescue City and grab a point for the away side, who hit both posts late in the game as they tried to snatch the win.
After four games of the season, City now have seven points on the board while Arsenal have six after securing their third-straight draw.
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Sanchez looked lively early on and forced Joe Hart into a comfortable save when shooting from distance. In the 13th minute new signing Welbeck came so close to a debut goal as he was played clean through on goal by a terrible backpass from Man City’s David Silva, dinked his shot over the advancing Hart superbly but the ball hit the post as he held his head in disbelief.
Arsenal continued to press with Welbeck and Sanchez causing City plenty of problems. City were struggling to get out of their own half. Then, boom. A loose ball broke to Jesus Navas on the halfway line and the Spaniard sped away down the right and crossed for Aguero to tap home and put the visitors 1-0 up against the run of play. Soon after City were almost 2-0 up as Aguero forced Szczesny into a smart save from close range. Arsenal’s early promise had evaporated as City looked razor sharp on the counter.
[RELATED: Latest Premier League standings]
That goal have City a real footing in the game as Fernandinho broke the play up expertly in midfield and frustrated Arsenal’s playmakers as the half time whistle blew. After the break City had much more of the ball as Samir Nasri replaced debutant Frank Lampard.
As the second half wore on Arsenal began to turn the screw on City as Wilshere scored a sumptuous equalizer just after the hour mark. The England man got the ball 40-yards out, played a one-two with Sanchez and then Ramsey, before sidesteeping his marker and lifting the ball delightfully over Hart to make it 1-1. The Emirates erupted.
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In the latter stages of a pulsating game, both teams threw caution to the wind in order to grab an all important win. In the 74th minute, Arsenal went ahead for the first time in the game as a cross was looped into the box, then cleared to Wilshere who headed the ball toward Sanchez. The Chilean then placed a perfect volley into the far corner to make it 2-1 to the Gunners and score for the third-straight game. Matheiu Debuchy then suffered a serious looking injury and was replaced with Calum Chambers.
However, just when Arsenal looked to kick on and seal the win, City equalized as Demichelis headed home from a corner. There was some slack defending from the Arsenal backline which allowed the Argentine defender to make it 2-2. Late on Aleksandar Kolarov smashed the post with a rasping drive, then Edin Dzeko lobbed the ball over Szczesny but it rebounded off the post as the game ended in a 2-2 draw.
