Arsenal hit back in the second half to earn a deserved point and stop Manchester City moving up at the top of the Premier League summit as they played out a 1-1 draw at the Emirates on Saturday night.
Chelsea’s unpredicted 1-0 defeat to Crystal Palace earlier in the day meant victory for City would see them sitting at the summit on goal difference, but a second-half Mathieu Flamini goal cancelled out David Silva’s opener to share the spoils.
The Citizens started the match brightly and dominated the first half. They were ahead when David Silva deservedly broke the deadlock in the 18th minute
But Arsenal showed great resilience and commitment early in the second half, and Mathieu Flamini pulled the hosts level to boost their own flagging title hopes.
The Result keeps third placed City two points adrift of leaders Chelsea with two games in hand, and one behind Liverpool, who host Tottenham on Sunday. Arsenal, meanwhile, are three points further back in fourth to within five points of the leaders.
Match facts
Arsenal: Szczesny; Sagna, Mertesacker , Vermaelen, Gibbs ; Arteta, Flamini, Rosicky ; Cazorla, Podolski (Oxlade-Chamberlain 78); Giroud (Sanogo 84).
Subs: Fabianski, Jenkinson, Kallstrom, Bellerin, Gnabry.
Booked: Rosicky
Goal: Flamini 53
Man City: Hart ; Zabaleta , Kompany , Demichelis , Clichy ; Toure , Fernandinho , Navas (Milner 64), Silva, Nasri (Garcia 80); Dzeko (Negredo 84).
Subs: Lescott, Kolarov, Pantilimon, Jovetic.
Booked: Kompany, Toure, Silva, Javi Garcia
Goal: Silva 18
Referee: Mike Dean (Wirral) .
Attendance: 60,060
Source: Sokkaa