Manchester City 2-2 Arsenal: Five talking points from the Etihad
Manchester City's top-four hopes are hanging in the balance after Arsenal twice fought back from a goal down to claim a 2-2 draw at the Etihad Stadium on Super Sunday.
Sergio Aguero gave Manuel Pellegrini's men a perfect start when he scored his eighth goal in six Premier League games after eight minutes, but Olivier Giroud headed Arsenal's equaliser from a corner just two minutes later.
Kevin de Bruyne put City back in front with a low drive shortly after half-time, but Alexis Sanchez pulled Arsenal level again midway through the second half as the Gunners claimed a valuable point.
From City's Champions League chances to Giroud's improved performance for Arsenal, here are five talking points from the game…
Manchester City at risk
It was Manuel Pellegrini's final home game in charge of Manchester City
Manchester City's top-four hopes are out of their hands, and they are in real danger of starting Pep Guardiola's reign without Champions League football. Manchester United's 1-0 win over Norwich on Saturday left City needing three points against Arsenal, but they could now drop to fifth if Louis van Gaal's side win their game in hand against West Ham on Tuesday.
The home supporters at the Etihad showed their disappointment by leaving in their droves long before Pellegrini's leaving speech, and City only have themselves to blame for their current predicament. "It's not just about today, it's about results before today," said Sky Sports pundit Graeme Souness.
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"City were good today but if you're a City supporter watching that first half you're saying to yourself: 'Why are we not like that every week?' City have the best players but week after week this season they've gone out and not matched the opposition for effort. That's why they are where they are."
Welbeck injury hands Wilshere chance
Jack Wilshere made only his second appearance of the season for Arsenal
Arsenal's Danny Welbeck looked disconsolate as he trudged down the tunnel after hurting his knee in the first half. The 25-year-old faces an anxious wait to discover the extent of the injury ahead of Euro 2016, but his departure did at least open the door to his England team-mate Jack Wilshere.
Following a brief cameo against Sunderland last month, this was only Wilshere's second appearance of the season after his return from injury. Recent reports have suggested his starring displays in England's qualifying campaign will be enough to earn him a place in Roy Hodgson's 23-man squad for the Euros regardless of club form, but this was still an important step towards full fitness.
Wilshere produced a typically tenacious performance as he joined Mohamed Elneny and Aaron Ramsey in central midfield. There were occasional loose touches as he adjusted to the intensity of the encounter, but overall he acquitted himself well after such a long spell on the sidelines.
The midfielder showed a willingness to run with the ball, contributed defensively with tackles and interceptions, and also provided sound distribution, with 25 of his 29 passes finding a team-mate - giving him the highest success rate of any Arsenal player.
Cech's weakness?
Petr Cech was beaten by Kevin de Bruyne's long-range effort
Petr Cech will not enjoy watching replays of Manchester City's goals as he was beaten twice at his near post. The 33-year-old was not helped by the static defending in front of him, but De Bruyne's strike exposed what appears to be a growing weakness from long-range shots.
Only Stoke have conceded more goals from outside the box than Arsenal in the Premier League this season, and all 11 of them have come on Cech's watch. The first came from West Ham's Mauro Zarate on the opening day of the campaign, and De Bruyne's effort was reminiscent of Yannick Bolasie's equaliser for Crystal Palace three weeks ago.
It could have been a costly lapse for Arsenal, and Sky Sports pundit Thierry Henry was less than impressed. "The ball goes through the legs of Gabriel but I think Petr Cech needs to do way better than he did," he said.
Giroud ends his drought
Giroud ended a run of 881 minutes without a Premier League goal
While Cech endured an afternoon to forget in goal, there was a considerably improved display from the much-maligned Giroud at the other end of the pitch. The Frenchman ended a dismal run of 16 Premier League games without scoring when he rose to head home Elneny's corner, and his assist for Sanchez's strike was outstanding.
The striker pinned Eliaquim Mangala as he received Sanchez's pass with his back to goal on the edge of the City box, and his deft flick allowed the onrushing Chilean to dispatch a clinical first-time finish beyond Joe Hart.
Arsene Wenger in his post-match interview with Sky Sports. "He was sharp, focused, and today we have seen the real Olivier Giroud. It's true that in recent games he did not have that sharpness, but goalscorers go through ups and downs and you never know when a striker will score or not.
From a Manchester City perspective, Arsenal's first goal was a defensive horror show. First, Gael Clichy's ill-judged pass wrong-footed Hart and clipped his own post as it went out, then Mangala's woeful marking left Giroud to rise unchallenged and head home from the resulting corner.
Mangala allowed Giroud to get the better of him again for Arsenal's second goal, and City's struggles at the back were typical of a campaign in which they have now conceded more goals (40) than in any of the last five seasons.
City's defensive issues were further exasperated by the news that captainVincent Kompany could be facing four months out after he was forced off in their Champions League semi-final against Real Madrid, and a major defensive overhaul is likely to be Guardiola's first priority when he takes over in the summer.
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