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Attendance: 54,425
Manchester City logo
Premier League
May 8, 2016 at 4pm UK
 
Arsenal logo

2-2

Aguero (8'), De Bruyne (51')
FT(HT: 1-1)
Giroud (10'), Sanchez (68')

Manchester City's top-four place in jeopardy after draw at home to Arsenal

Manchester City open the door for neighbours Manchester United to go above them and into the top four by drawing 2-2 at home to Arsenal.

Manchester City have opened the door for neighbours Manchester United to go above them and into the top four by drawing 2-2 at home to Arsenal this afternoon.

It was a fast start from City, and they had the lead in the eighth minute when Sergio Aguero collected a knockdown from Fernandinho before drilling low inside Petr Cech's near post with his left foot.

Sergio Aguero scores the opener during the Premier League game between Manchester City and Arsenal on May 8, 2016© Getty Images

The goal was Aguero's 24th in the league this season and took him level with Jamie Vardy and one behind Harry Kane in the golden-boot race.

The Argentine has now scored in six straight Premier League games, but it was an out-of-form striker who was then celebrating as Arsenal instantly hit back.

Exactly two minutes after the opener, Olivier Giroud scored for the first time in 16 league games by heading home from a corner after former Arsenal defender Gael Clichy had headed against the outside of his own post and behind for the set piece.

Olivier Giroud celebrates with Mohamed Elneny during the Premier League game between Manchester City and Arsenal on May 8, 2016© AFP

It was a frantic start, but chances became few and far between in the remainder of the opening period as City continued to have the brighter moments but failed to carve out any clear-cut openings.

Arsenal's Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain was ruled out of Euro 2016 earlier this week, and there must now be concerns over the fitness of Danny Welbeck after the forward had to go off with an apparent knee problem midway through the first half.

The home side doubled their lead not long after the resumption as Kevin De Bruyne surged forward from near-halfway before cutting inside and picking out the bottom corner with a skidding low shot that Cech failed to stop at his near post.

Towering beauty Kevin de Bruyne scores a second during the Premier League game between Manchester City and Arsenal on May 8, 2016© Getty Images

Arsene Wenger replaced the ineffective Alex Iwobi with Theo Walcott before the hour, and the latter had a chance to level the scores shortly after coming on but lifted the ball wide after a flowing move from the visitors.

The Gunners were celebrating seconds later, though, as Alexis Sanchez showed Walcott the way with a classy finish after linking up well with Giroud.

Alexis Sanchez celebrates after scoring for Arsenal against Manchester City on May 8, 2016© AFP

De Bruyne and Aguero both went close to restoring City's lead and then combined brilliantly, with Aguero volleying inches wide in the 74th minute.

There was one last chance for City to grab the points on Manuel Pellegrini's last home match in charge, but substitute Wilfried Bony saw his well-timed sidefoot volley slap back off the face of the crossbar.

A draw means that City are only two points ahead of United, who have a game more to play and will be guaranteed of a Champions League place if they win their last two matches away at West Ham United and at home to Bournemouth.

Manchester City fans hold up a sign for Manuel Pellegrini on May 8, 2016© AFP

Arsenal, meanwhile, miss the chance to draw level on points with second-placed Tottenham Hotspur, who lost at home to Southampton earlier, but they will finish above their North London rivals if they beat Aston Villa and Spurs lose against Newcastle United on the final day.

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Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Arsenal28204470244664
2Liverpool28197265263964
3Manchester CityMan City28196363283563
4Aston Villa29175760421856
5Tottenham HotspurSpurs28165759421753
6Manchester UnitedMan Utd28152113939047
7West Ham UnitedWest Ham2912894650-444
8Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton2811985044642
9Wolverhampton WanderersWolves28125114244-241
10Newcastle UnitedNewcastle281241259481140
11Chelsea27116104745239
12Fulham29115134344-138
13Bournemouth2898114152-1135
14Crystal Palace2878133348-1529
15Brentford2975174154-1326
16Everton2887132939-1025
17Luton TownLuton2957174260-1822
18Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest2967163551-1621
19Burnley2945202963-3417
20Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd2835202474-5014


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