Man City fail to hold lead twice

AFP, LONDON: Arsenal earned beleaguered manager Arsene Wenger a measure of respite by twice hitting back to hold Manchester City to a 2-2 draw at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday.
Pep Guardiola twice saw his City side go ahead, through Leroy Sane and then Sergio Aguero, but Arsenal responded each time via goals from Theo Walcott and Shkodran Mustafi.
Victory would have been a welcome tonic for Wenger, who has come in for heavy criticism from Arsenal's fans, but after four defeats in five Premier League games, the point was welcome.
His side remain seven points below City -- who occupy the fourth and final Champions League berth -- in sixth place, but they retain a game in hand.
City were prevented both from reclaiming third place from Liverpool and eating into Chelsea's advantage following the leaders' shock 2-1 defeat at home to Crystal Palace. But Guardiola's men, who have now drawn their last three league games, will have an opportunity to close to within eight points of the summit when they travel to Chelsea on Wednesday.
Wenger again faced protests from some Arsenal fans, this time in the form of an advertising van parked outside the ground and leaflets about the launch of a #NoNewContract social media campaign.
City's team featured the novelty of Jesus Navas at right-back, but there was nothing new about the huge boulevards of space they found between the members of Arsenal's back four.
It took City less than five minutes to draw blood as Kevin De Bruyne's hopeful pass from deep inside his own half sent Sane scampering clear.
The Germany winger outpaced Hector Bellerin and skipped past David Ospina -- deputising in goal for the injured Petr Cech -- before rolling in his eighth City goal.
When De Bruyne bent a low shot against the post and David Silva forced Ospina to parry with the rebound, Arsenal looked set for a long afternoon.
They worked a foothold, however, Mesut Ozil putting a tame shot straight at Willy Caballero, Nacho Monreal lashing over from a corner and Alexis Sanchez curling centimetres wide. It took a last-ditch sliding challenge from Fernandinho, meanwhile, to prevent Sanchez applying the finishing touch to Ozil's flick.
Wenger's men equalised in the 40th minute when former Arsenal left-back Gael Clichy played Walcott onside from Mustafi's header and the England man bundled a shot past Caballero.
But in testament to Arsenal's recent travails, parity would exist for just 131 seconds.

Man City fail to hold lead twice

AFP, LONDON: Arsenal earned beleaguered manager Arsene Wenger a measure of respite by twice hitting back to hold Manchester City to a 2-2 draw at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday. Pep Guardiola twice saw his City side go ahead, through Leroy Sane and then Sergio Aguero, but Arsenal responded each time via goals from Theo Walcott and Shkodran Mustafi. Victory would have been a welcome tonic for Wenger, who has come in for heavy criticism from Arsenals fans, but after four defeats in five Premier League games, the point was welcome. His side remain seven points below City -- who occupy the fourth and final Champions League berth -- in sixth place, but they retain a game in hand. City were prevented both from reclaiming third place from Liverpool and eating into Chelseas advantage following the leaders shock 2-1 defeat at home to Crystal Palace. But Guardiolas men, who have now drawn their last three league games, will have an opportunity to close to within eight points of the summit when they travel to Chelsea on Wednesday. Wenger again faced protests from some Arsenal fans, this time in the form of an advertising van parked outside the ground and leaflets about the launch of a #NoNewContract social media campaign. Citys team featured the novelty of Jesus Navas at right-back, but there was nothing new about the huge boulevards of space they found between the members of Arsenals back four. It took City less than five minutes to draw blood as Kevin De Bruynes hopeful pass from deep inside his own half sent Sane scampering clear. The Germany winger outpaced Hector Bellerin and skipped past David Ospina -- deputising in goal for the injured Petr Cech -- before rolling in his eighth City goal. When De Bruyne bent a low shot against the post and David Silva forced Ospina to parry with the rebound, Arsenal looked set for a long afternoon. They worked a foothold, however, Mesut Ozil putting a tame shot straight at Willy Caballero, Nacho Monreal lashing over from a corner and Alexis Sanchez curling centimetres wide. It took a last-ditch sliding challenge from Fernandinho, meanwhile, to prevent Sanchez applying the finishing touch to Ozils flick. Wengers men equalised in the 40th minute when former Arsenal left-back Gael Clichy played Walcott onside from Mustafis header and the England man bundled a shot past Caballero. But in testament to Arsenals recent travails, parity would exist for just 131 seconds.