Wenger ’n Pep miles off title and Champions League

THIS was a bit better by Arsenal but both they and City have a long way to go before they can rule domestically, never mind in Europe.

After four defeats in five league games, a draw for Arsene Wenger and his men had to be an improvement, even if it dented further their hopes of qualifying for the Champions League.

As for Pep Guardiola’s outfit, they will rue not having the conviction and know-how to defeat the stuttering, nervous Gunners.

Unlike Tottenham at Burnley the day before, they could not pick up the victory that would have left Chelsea suffering a bit of anxiety about being caught following their shock home defeat by Crystal Palace.

City were ahead twice, through Leroy Sane – by far the most accomplished player on the pitch – and Sergio Aguero.

Thrills

But Arsenal hit back thanks to Theo Walcott and Shkodran Mustafi and held on for the point in a finale which failed to provide any serious thrills.

In fact it was a weird game, full of poor touches, misplaced passes, disappointing crosses and niggly fouls – and some rank bad defending.

In particular, Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil came over as cheap imitations of the two players that had appeared capable of leading a title charge in the early part of the season.

With their futures, along with boss Wenger’s, in such serious doubt, it is no surprise the Gunners are not a team united.

Walcott’s stony-faced walk to the bench – snubbing his boss, who in turn ignored him – when he was substituted in the 67th minute was a further sign of the bad vibes around the Emirates.

As were the boos for Sanchez when he lazily gifted possession to Jesus Navas. Luckily for him, Aguero could not get enough on his header from his cross to seriously trouble keeper David Ospina.

Guardiola certainly went for the win, throwing a huge surprise by picking Navas at right-back in a team packed with attack-minded players.

He knew a win would take his side to within nine points of Chelsea, which could then be cut to six with a win at Stamford Bridge on Wednesday.

But basically they just weren’t good enough to gun down the Gunners, even after getting off to a tremendous start in the fifth minute with a route-one approach. Kevin De Bruyne launched the ball forward and super Sane showed tremendous speed to outpace the zippy Hector Bellerin.

Ospina rushed out but was distracted by his own right-back and all Sane had to do was jink to the left and then slot the ball just inside the far post.

They came close to a second in the 10th minute when De Bruyne sent a curler onto a post.

But Walcott responded in the 40th minute, getting the better of Gael Clichy when a ball headed back into the danger area by Mustafi bobbled around and somehow ended up at the winger’s foot, allowing him to stab home.

But the lead only lasted two minutes. Arsenal’s ragged backline opened up again as De Bruyne surged at them and when the ball broke to David Silva, he set it up nicely for Aguero.

The Argentine drilled a low shot across goal and into the far corner.

Lethal

With both sides looking badly affected by the international break, the quality of the football continued to deteriorate.

The normally lethal Aguero got his angles all wrong in the 52nd minute when he had a free header from a Navas cross. He failed to glance the ball, thumping it wide of the near post.

He was shown how to connect in the air by Mustafi a minute later as City emulated some of Arsenal’s recent defensive work from set-pieces. Ozil took a corner from the left and the German was allowed space to send a header to the left of the diving Willy Caballero.

Aside from that Aguero header after the Sanchez cock-up, the only real decent effort came when Ospina had to react sharply to beat away a Fernandinho half-volley. City could have had a late penalty when the ball brushed Nacho Monreal’s arm.

Maybe Wenger’s luck is turning. He definitely

needs it to.