Frustrated Arsenal held to 2-2 draw by City
ARSENE Wenger endured more frustration as Arsenal were held to a 2-2 draw by top-four rivals Manchester City, while Swansea and Middlesbrough remain in relegation danger after a 0-0 draw yesterday.
With Arsenal fans once again calling for Wenger to resign during a pre-match protest march outside the Emirates Stadium, the Gunners boss desperately needed a dominant display from his team.
Instead, Arsenal had to come from behind twice to avoid a third successive Premier League defeat.
The north Londoners remain in sixth place, seven points behind fourth-placed City in the fight to qualify for the Champions League via a top-four finish.
Arsenal fell behind after only five minutes when Leroy Sane held off Hector Bellerin as he accelerated onto Kevin de Bruyne’s pass before rounding David Ospina and slotting home.
Theo Walcott equalised for Arsenal in the 40th minute when he stabbed in after City defender Gael Clichy played him onside following a half-cleared corner.
Just two minutes later, Sergio Aguero restored City’s advantage with a predatory finish after more sloppy Arsenal defending.
Arsenal lost French defender Laurent Koscielny to an achilles’ tendon injury at the interval.
But Wenger’s side were back on level terms again eight minutes after half time as Shkodran Mustafi headed in from Mesut Ozil’s corner.
City had a penalty appeal turned down when Nacho Monreal appeared to handle in the final seconds.
Pep Guardiola’s side have now drawn their last three league matches and have a five-point lead over fifth-placed Manchester United, who have a game in hand on their local rivals. At the Liberty Stadium, Middlesbrough wasted a chance to boost their survival bid in a stalemate with relegation rivals Swansea.
Steve Agnew’s side would have moved within two points of safety with a victory at the Liberty Stadium.
But instead second-bottom Middlesbrough remain five points adrift of 17th-placed Swansea.
Middlesbrough, without a win in 12 league games, are four points behind third-bottom Hull, although they have a game in hand on both sides in the battle to avoid dropping into the Championship.