Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger praised his team for putting in a strong display against a determined Manchester City side at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday.

Manuel Pellegrini's side needed three points from their last home game of the Chilean's regime to keep pace with the Gunners in the Premier League table, however, City could only manage a 2-2 draw after twice taking the lead.

Wenger was delighted with how his side recovered on two occasions as the third-placed Gunners remained three points clear of City in fourth who were desperate to give Pellegrini a joyous send-off.

Wenger said after the game: "Man City had decided to give a big present to Manuel Pellegrini, they were all on fire and we needed to show special fighting spirit to come away with a point.

"I was surprised a little bit by the intensity of their start. They came out with a lot of pressure, the good thing is we absorbed it and every time we were down we came back.

"We have to finish the job now at home against Villa. We want to finish with a win at home."

Olivier Giroud cancelled out Sergio Aguero's 8th-minute opener with a fine header on 10 minutes before Alexis Sanchez sliced open the City defence to fire beyond Joe Hart in the 68th minute after Kevin De Bruyne had edged City ahead with a fine individual goal six minutes into the second half.