Man City hold Arsenal in thrilling draw

Danny Welbeck hits post on Arsenal debut
Frank Lampard plays 45 minutes on City
debut
Arsenal fight back from 1-0 down to take
lead
Demichelis ensures City avoid back-to-back
defeats
Arsenal were denied victory by Martin Demichelis's
late equaliser as they fought out an entertaining
draw with Manchester City at Emirates Stadium.
England striker Danny Welbeck made his Arsenal
debut after his £16m move from Manchester United
- and should have celebrated with a goal only to
strike a post when clean through early on.
Sergio Aguero made Arsenal pay for that miss by
putting City ahead before half-time but goals from
Jack Wilshire and Alexis Sanchez saw the Gunners
in sight of a memorable victory.
Their hopes were dashed when poor marking at a
corner allowed Argentine defender Martin Demicelis
to beat Arsenal keeper Wojciech Szczesny to earn a
point seven minutes from time.
In a frantic finish, Aleksandar Kolarov hit the post
for Manchester City and Arsenal defender Laurent
Koscielny cleared against his own post as the
Premier League champions threatened to snatch
the three points, which would have been very cruel
on Arsene Wenger's side.
Wenger will be frustrated at Arsenal's failure to
close out the win but he will have been delighted by
the spirit and quality shown by his side.
Frank Lampard, who is on a six-month loan from
New York City, made his Manchester City debut and
played the first 45 minutes before being replaced by
Samir Nasri at half-time.
Jack Wilshere was a driving force in midfield while
Welbeck, despite missing his best opportunity, was
energetic and mobile enough in attack to suggest
he will offer Arsenal a focal point and something
different as the season progresses.
As for City and manager Manuel Pellegrini, there
will be concern that the control they had after taking
the lead was allowed to slip away in the face of
Arsenal's excellence, although they ended the game
as likely winners.
And in a season where every point is precious,
Pellegrini will be unhappy at two more lost following
the surprise home defeat to Stoke City.
Welbeck was utilised in his favoured central role
with Mesut Ozil deployed to his left and Sanchez on
the right - a fluidity Arsenal exploited in an
impressive opening spell.
It was during this period of dominance that Welbeck
had his chance after 11 minutes when David Silva's
backpass only offered up a perfect through ball. The
striker took his time and measured a chipped finish
over Joe Hart, only to strike the post.
While some would regard this as an example of
Welbeck's lack of ruthlessness in front of goal,
Aguero demonstrated how it was done as City took
a lead that was hardly deserved.
Jesus Navas chased a seemingly lost cause as
Mathieu Flamini appealed for a throw-in, retrieving
the ball with a surging run that ended with a cross
that was expertly swept past Szczesny at the near
post by Aguero.
On this occasion no-one could question Arsenal's
spirit and they got the reward their endeavour, and
indeed quality, deserved just after the hour.
City were convinced Aguero had been impeded
when he lost possession but referee Mark
Clattenburg waved play on and after some fierce
Arsenal pressing Wilshere raced into the area to
clip a perfect finish over Hart from the angle.
The momentum was now with Arsenal and they
turned the game around to take the lead with 16
minutes left when Wilshere's header found
Sanchez, who demonstrated perfect technique to
sidefoot a volley high past Hart.
Just as Arsenal fans sensed victory, City were level
with seven minutes left, manager Wenger turning
away in anguish as desperate marking at a corner
saw Demichelis best Szczesny with a header the
keeper touched but could not keep out.
Then came that late flurry in which City almost won
and Arsenal lost defender Mathieu Debuchy, taken
off on a stretcher with an ankle injury, but a draw
was a fair result.
Sergio Aguero started on his
own up front for Manchester
City
Danny Welbeck scored 29
goals in 142 Manchester
United appearances before
joining Arsenal
Lampard was taken off at
half-time on his Manchester
City debut
Arsenal Man City
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All Sport
Premier League
Arsenal Man City
BARCLAYS PREMIER LEAGUE
Date: Saturday, 13th September
Kick off: 12:45 BST
Venue: Emirates Stadium
V
FT 90' +7
HT 0-1
Agüero 28'
Wilshere 63'
Sánchez 74'
Demichelis 83'
Arsenal Man City
Substitutes Substitutes
Szczesny 1
Mertesacker 4
Debuchy (
Chambers 81')
2
Monreal 18
Koscielny 6
Flamini (Arteta
95')
20
Sánchez 17
Özil 11
Ramsey 16
Wilshere 10
Welbeck (Oxlade-
Chamberlain 88') 23
Hart 1
Clichy 22
Kompany 4
Zabaleta 5
Demichelis 26
Jesús Navas 15
Silva 21
Fernandinho (
Kolarov 77')
25
Lampard (Nasri
45')
18
Milner 7
Agüero (Dzeko
67')
16
Gibbs 3
Arteta 8
Podolski 9
Ospina 13
Oxlade-
Chamberlain
15
Cazorla 19
Chambers 21
Sagna 3
Nasri 8
Dzeko 10
Kolarov 11
Sinclair 12
Caballero 13
Mangala 20
55%
15
8
3
15
Match Finished
Match ends, Arsenal 2, Manchester City 2.
90'+7' Full Time
Second Half ends, Arsenal 2, Manchester City
2.
90'+7'
Attempt missed. Vincent Kompany
(Manchester City) header from the centre of
the box misses to the right. Assisted by David
Silva with a cross following a set piece
situation.
90'+6'
David Silva (Manchester City) wins a free kick
on the left wing.
90'+6'
Foul by Mikel Arteta (Arsenal).
90'+6'
Jesús Navas (Manchester City) wins a free
kick in the defensive half.
90'+6'
Foul by Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (Arsenal).
90'+5' Substitution
Substitution, Arsenal. Mikel Arteta replaces
Mathieu Flamini.
90'+4'
Offside, Manchester City. Edin Dzeko tries a
through ball, but Samir Nasri is caught offside.
90'+4'
Attempt saved. Edin Dzeko (Manchester City)
left footed shot from the centre of the box is
saved in the bottom left corner. Assisted by
David Silva.
90'+1'
Offside, Arsenal. Mesut Özil tries a through ball,
but Laurent Koscielny is caught offside.
90'+1'
Foul by James Milner (Manchester City).
90'+1'
Aaron Ramsey (Arsenal) wins a free kick in the
attacking half.
90'
Foul by Edin Dzeko (Manchester City).
90'
Laurent Koscielny (Arsenal) wins a free kick in
the defensive half.
90'
David Silva (Manchester City) wins a free kick
in the defensive half.
90'
Foul by Aaron Ramsey (Arsenal).
88'
Aleksandar Kolarov (Manchester City) hits the
left post with a left footed shot from the left
side of the box.
88' Substitution
Substitution, Arsenal. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain
replaces Danny Welbeck.
87'
Attempt missed. Danny Welbeck (Arsenal) right
footed shot from outside the box is close, but
misses the top right corner.
86'
Attempt blocked. David Silva (Manchester City)
left footed shot from the left side of the box is
blocked. Assisted by Gaël Clichy.
83' GOAL!
Goal! Arsenal 2, Manchester City 2. Martín
Demichelis (Manchester City) header from the
centre of the box to the top right corner.
Assisted by Aleksandar Kolarov with a cross
following a corner.
83'
Corner, Manchester City. Conceded by Calum
Chambers.
81'
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
81' Substitution
Substitution, Arsenal. Calum Chambers
replaces Mathieu Debuchy because of an
injury.
79'
Delay in match Mathieu Debuchy (Arsenal)
because of an injury.
77' Substitution
Substitution, Manchester City. Aleksandar
Kolarov replaces Fernandinho.
77'
Attempt missed. Aaron Ramsey (Arsenal) right
footed shot from the centre of the box misses
to the right. Assisted by Jack Wilshere with a
through ball.
75' Booking
Alexis Sánchez (Arsenal) is shown the yellow
card for excessive celebration.
74' GOAL!
Goal! Arsenal 2, Manchester City 1. Alexis
Sánchez (Arsenal) right footed shot from the
centre of the box to the top right corner.
Assisted by Jack Wilshere with a headed pass.
73'
Foul by Vincent Kompany (Manchester City).
73'
Alexis Sánchez (Arsenal) wins a free kick in
the defensive half.
72'
Attempt saved. Samir Nasri (Manchester City)
right footed shot from outside the box is saved
in the centre of the goal. Assisted by David
Silva.
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2 2
Referee
Attendance
Mark Clattenburg
60,003