Laurent Koscielny’s equaliser ensured Arsenal left Eastlands with a deserved point as the Gunners held Premier League champions Manchester City to a 1-1 draw on Sunday.
Koscielny’s goal eight minutes from time ensured Arsenal maintained their unbeaten start to the season and cancelled out the opener from City centre-half Joleon Lescott. The draw left both clubs on nine points, four adrift of leaders Chelsea.
Koscielny struck eight minutes from time, controlling the ball and converting from a dozen yards after Lescott had made a poor clearance from Theo Walcott’s dangerous left-wing corner. Lescott himself had struck with an impressive and powerful set-piece header on the half hour, arriving in between Koscielny and Lukas Podolski to power home David Silva's right-wing corner, a goal that came against the run of play in terms of chances created.
Until Lescott’s impressive finish, Arsenal had looked the more likely scorers. Hart scurried to his right to keep out Cazorla’s well-struck 20-yard free-kick, Gervinho shot into the side netting after another Ramsey-inspired counter-attack and Cazorla ended the half by stabbing a shot just wide.
Gunners boss Arsene Wenger threw on Olivier Giroud and Walcott for the game's final 19 minutes, the duo injecting more attacking urgency into their team's play without Hart being unduly troubled at first.
Instead, Yaya Toure launched a dangerous 80th minute counter-attack, slipping in Aguero whose shot, under pressure from Koscielny, was turned around the post by Mannone.It was a half chance, and miss, that proved costly with Arsenal immediately responding through midfielder Cazorla's powerful right-foot strike which Hart did well to tip over,
{{/usCountry}}Instead, Yaya Toure launched a dangerous 80th minute counter-attack, slipping in Aguero whose shot, under pressure from Koscielny, was turned around the post by Mannone.It was a half chance, and miss, that proved costly with Arsenal immediately responding through midfielder Cazorla's powerful right-foot strike which Hart did well to tip over,
{{/usCountry}}resulting in the corner from which Koscielny equalised.