Arsenal and Manchester City produced a lunchtime classic as they shared four goals in a thrilling 2-2 draw at Emirates stadium today.Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger started the game with Danny Welbeck in attack fresh from his £16 million move from Manchester United. The Frenchman also received a boost being able to name Aaron Ramsey in his XI, despite his international injury scare.
For City, Yaya Toure missed out, having only returned from international duty with Ivory Coast yesterday. Chelsea legend Frank Lampard stepped in for his City debut.
After a scrappy opening ten minutes, the first opening chance fell to debutant Welbeck. The England striker found himself clean on goal after a poor City pass. Welbeck, one-on-one with Joe Hart, beat the goalkeeper, only for his shot to come back off the post.
After both teams traded tentative blows, Sergio Aguero rifled home City's opener on 28 minutes.
Jesus Navas burst down the flank and picked out Aguero with a clever cross for the Argentine to ram the ball home.
Five minutes later and City almost took the game away from the Gunners as their slick passing left the hosts flailing - David Silva's final effort was smartly turned aside by Arsenal keeper Wojcich Szczesny.
City finished the half peppering Szczesny's goal, but the Pole stood firm to keep his team within reach.
City boss Manuel Pellegrini hauled off Lampard at the break for former Gooner Samir Nasri.
The second-half kicked off with Arsenal showing more purpose. Half chances fell to Welbeck and Alexis Sanchez before Jack Wilshere produced a superb equaliser on 63 minutes.
City will complain about a foul on Vincent Kompany in the lead up, but Wilshere produced a wonder goal, jinking past Gael Clichy before slotting past Hart from a tight angle.
Ten minutes later, Arsenal were ahead - with Alexis producing an even better effort.
Ramsey's cross was headed clear to Wilshere, who nodded it across the penalty box for Alexis to guide a stunning volley past Hart's despairing dive.
Minutes later, Wilshere produced another chance, this time for Ramsey, but the Welshman fluffed his effort wide.
Mathieu Debuchy was soon after stretchered off with a serious ankle injury, replaced by Calum Chambers.
City made Arsenal pay on 83 minutes as the hosts again were caught out at the back. Martin Demichelis fired a bullet header into the top corner. Szczesny's attempt to make a save may actually have prevented the man on the line from making a clearance.
Aleks Kolarov, on 88 minutes, fired against Arsenal's near post. Then, on 92 minutes, Edin Dzeko beat Szczesny, only for his clever lob to bounce against the other post.
City's efforts still weren't over and 60 seconds later Nasri had the ball in the back of the net, only for the goal to be ruled offside.
Arsenal and City both went end-to-end in the final minutes, but the game finished at 2-2 and a fair result for both teams.
