ARSENAL 2, MANCHESTER CITY 2
- Leroy Sane gives Manchester City the early lead after just 5 minutes
Theo Walcott equalises after 40 minutes - Sergio Aguero puts City back in front just two minutes later
- Nicolas Otamendi falls asleep at a corner allow Mesut Ozil to find Shkodran Mustafi to head a second equaliser in the 53rd minute
- Kevin De Bruyne hits the woodwork twice
- Late controversy over Nacho Monreal handball call in injury time
Chelsea’s home defeat to Crystal Palace on Saturday seemed to offer the chance of rejoining the title race again but Manchester City failed to capitalise and had to settle for a 2-2 draw at the Emirates.
City twice took the lead through Leroy Sane and Sergio Aguero only to be pegged back on each occasion by goals from set pieces by Theo Walcott and Shkodran Mustafi.
The draw meant City have still only beaten the Gunners in the league in London once since 1975 but a point will have reduced the heat on Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger after four defeats in their last six games left them outside the top four in sixth.
City boss Pep Guardiola was disappointed to not take full advantage of Chelsea’s slip, which leaves the Blues in fourth spot on 58 points.
They are 11 points off Chelsea at the top of the league and five ahead of Manchester United, who have a game in hand, in fifth place.
Guardiola told mcfc.com: “There are still a lot of games left. Chelsea lost yesterday and it was disappointing not to take all three points today.
The City boss also praised Jesus Navas – City’s one change on the day from their last game – who was used at right back due to City’s defensive woes, saying: “I want to congratulate Jesus Navas who was excellent against one of the best players in the world in Alexis Sanchez.
“I played him because Bacary Sagna was injured and Pablo Zabaleta were not ready and Jesus always deserves the best because he is an excellent guy and I was so happy with him.”
Navas came in for Yaya Toure whose introduction in the second half allowed City to control the game at the Etihad which had earlier seen three first half goals in another open attacking exhibition.
There had been early excitement when Raheem Sterling was beaten to the ball by David Ospina having broke free with just the Colombian to beat while Danny Welbeck shot just wide.
Leroy Sane opens the scoring but City miss the chance to significantly close the gap on Chelsea
Leroy Sane scored his 8th goal of a remarkable season when he outran Hector Bellerin and rounded Ospina before placing the ball into the empty net after just five minutes at the Emirates.
City were once again wasteful after carving out chances to extend the lead with Kevin De Bruyne hitting the post with a curling effort before David Silva was denied by Ospina trying to follow-up.
Inevitably, their inability to capitalise on their dominance cost City again soon before half time when Theo Walcott levelled things up after Gael Clichy played him onside during a corner routine.
De Bruyne’s shot deflected off Laurent Koscielny and hit the post as City rallied and David Silva slid the ball to Aguero who finished from wide on the right between defender and keeper – his 26th goal of the season just 2 minutes after Walcott’s equaliser.
The second half lost some intensity as players, minded of earlier yellow cards, tried to play more cautiously.
City once again spurned chances to extend the lead with header by Aguero and Nicolas Otamendi going begging before Shkodran Mustafi headed home from an Ozil corner with Otamendi out of position.
Aguero’s late header wasn’t powerful enough to get past Ospina after a poor backheel by Sanchez in near his own box which was latched onto and crossed by Navas.
And Francis Coquelin was lucky to stay on after pushing over De Bruyne as Arsenal tried to see the ball out while Jesus Navas’ cross appeared to be handled by Nacho Monreal added time without any reaction from the referee.