Manchester City vs. Arsenal: Score, Reaction from 2016 Premier League Match
Manchester City failed to give manager Manuel Pellegrini a winning send-off at the Etihad Stadium as they drew, 2-2, with Arsenal in the Premier League on Sunday.
In the Chilean's last home game in charge, City were twice ahead through excellent finishes from Sergio Aguero and Kevin De Bruyne.
But Olivier Giroud and Alexis Sanchez found equalisers in each half, and the Sky Blues' UEFA Champions League spot for next season is now in serious danger. They hold a two-point advantage over fifth-place Manchester United, who have a game in hand.
TOP NEWS
Madrid Fines Players $590K 😲
'Mbappé Out' Petition Gaining Steam 😳
Star-Studded World Cup Ad 🤩
Ahead of kick-off in Manchester, both sides provided their respective lineups:
The hosts had the better of the opening exchanges, looking much more ambitious going forward than they did in their 1-0 defeat to Real Madrid midweek.
City got their reward in the eighth minute as Aguero received a knock-down from Fernandinho on the edge of the box and fired an accurate left-footed strike past Petr Cech into the bottom corner.
Arsenal responded excellently and almost drew level two minutes later as Gael Clichy's mistimed header back to goalkeeper Joe Hart shaved a post.
The Gunners then did tie the game up from the resulting corner, Giroud losing marker Eliaquim Mangala and rising to head powerfully into the back of the net for his first goal in nearly four months, per the Times' Henry Winter:
It was an even and exciting opening to the game and there was almost another goal in the 16th minute, but Aguero's goal-bound shot was excellently diverted over the bar by Gabriel.
The Gunners then lost Danny Welbeck to injury just after the 20-minute mark as he went down clutching right knee, eventually heading down the tunnel and being replaced by Jack Wilshere.
City dominated the second half of the opening period as Arsenal failed to trouble Hart again, but the Sky Blues dealt only in half-chances before the break.
It was a different matter early in the second half, Fernandinho put clear in the 49th minute before blazing over the bar after he was forced into a tight angle by Laurent Koscielny.
De Bruyne then put City ahead again in the 51st minute, sneaking a low finish into the bottom corner from the edge of the box after a searing run from the halfway line, per the Times' Gabriele Marcotti:
Gunners manager Arsene Wenger introduced Theo Walcott in response to falling behind again, and the Englishman made an instant impact, his pace causing the City defence plenty of problems.
He almost drew Arsenal level when he was released by Giroud 23 minutes from time, but Hart was off his line in a flash and forced Walcott to chip wide.
Sanchez made it 2-2 just a minute later, linking up fantastically with Giroud before curling a brilliant finish past Hart, via Arsenal:
As the minutes ticked down, City searched desperately for a winner, knowing any dropped points would hand local rivals Manchester United the initiative in the race for the Premier League's fourth spot.
Aguero almost found his second after linking up brilliantly with De Bruyne on the edge of the box, but the Argentinian dragged his shot wide.
Second-half replacement Wilfried Bony then rattled the crossbar with a hooked volley two minutes from time.
But City could not find a third goal and will now have to rely on either West Ham United or Bournemouth taking points off United if they are to be in the Champions League next season.
Post-Match Reaction
Pellegrini bemoaned the result and insisted his side was worthy of taking three points from the Etihad clash, per Match of the Day (via BBC Sport's Phil Dawkes): "We should have won that game, and I think we deserved it. We played very well. Our first 25 minutes were some of the best here this season. But Arsenal's goals were good."
Meanwhile, Wenger hailed the intensity his side showed during a challenging match, via Dawkes: "I am not disappointed because twice we were losing and twice we came back. It was a game that was very, very intense. It was an unbelievable fight today and the most intense we have played for a while."
