• Arsenal 2-2 Manchester City, Premier League

Demichelis denies Arsenal comeback victory

Jack Wilshere scores a brilliant equaliser for Arsenal by chipping the ball over Joe Hart © Getty Images

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Jack Wilshere and Alexis Sanchez produced two spectacular goals for Arsenal, but a Martin Demichelis header grabbed a point for champions Manchester City at the Emirates.

Sergio Aguero had put Manchester City in front in the first half with a super finish of his own, converting Jesus Navas' low cross at the near post beyond Wojciech Szczesny. Earlier, Arsenal debutant Danny Welbeck had struck the post when put clean through on goal with just Joe Hart to beat.

Match Analysis

• Man of the match: After being criticised by pundit Paul Scholes in the build-up, Jack Wilshere scored one and set up another in a superb second-half performance.
• Villain: Harsh, but it has to be Wojciech Szczesny for the finger-tip touch that prevented Mathieu Flamini from clearing Martin Demichelis' equaliser.
• Key moment: Mathieu Debuchy being stretchered off not only unsettled Arsenal shortly before the equaliser, but could prove costly for some time yet.
• Steven Saunders

However, two brilliant goals in the space of 11 second-half minutes put Arsenal ahead and Wilshere was at the heart of both of them. First, he linked up brilliantly with Aaron Ramsey in the City box before clipping a superb finish over Joe Hart, his first goal in 15 matches for Arsenal.

Then he turned provider with the cross for Sanchez, who volleyed a wonderful finish over Hart and into the far corner of the net.

The lead was little more than Arsenal deserved, yet a three-minute spell ruined their afternoon. First, Mathieu Debuchy was stretchered off with what appeared to be a serious leg injury and then Demichelis equalised with a powerful header from an outswinging Aleksandr Kolarov corner.

A Szczesny touch took the header away from Mathieu Flamini, who was in a good position to clear the ball from his station on the far post. There was almost more farce in the same area of the field in injury time as Laurent Koscielny deflected a cross beyond Szczesny and off the post before the goalkeeper gratefully dived on the loose ball.

Szczesny then made a wondeful save in the fourth minute of stoppage time to deny Edin Dzeko, with Samir Nasri turning the ball home but from an offside position.

Frank Lampard made his City debut after Yaya Toure played for Ivory Coast in midweek but he lasted only until half-time, with a foul on Aaron Ramsey that earned a yellow card his headline moment.

Premier League Results & Stats

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Ramsey started in Arsenal's midfield after recovering from an ankle injury, but all eyes were on Welbeck's first appearance for the Gunners.

His first touch was greeted with a roar of approval from home fans and expectation continued to grip the Emirates Stadium as Sanchez tested Hart from long range.

Somehow Aguero threaded a path between three defenders, but the angle was too tight to produce a meaningful shot and Arsenal immediately renewed their offensive.

Welbeck failed to connect with Mesut Ozil's delicate pass and moments later the England forward had a glorious chance to put Arsenal ahead after intercepting David Silva's ill-judged back pass. Only Hart stood between Welbeck and a debut goal but his attempted lob drifted on to the left post.

Arsenal had bristled with intent in a superb start, but City's ability to threaten on the counter was highlighted when Navas broke clear and forced a key clearance from Per Mertesacker.

Moments after Sanchez had almost ghosted through City's defence, the champions struck a clinical opening goal after a 50-50 clearance in midfield looped over to an unmarked Navas on the right wing. The Spaniard set off and delayed his pass perfectly for the arriving Aguero to slide his shot past Szczesny.

Szczesny then had to prod clear a shot by Silva after Pablo Zabaleta exploited Arsenal's left flank - and particularly outclassed full-back Nacho Monreal - once again.

Aguero's goal had clearly deflated the hosts and it was not until the opening exchanges of the second half that they threatened again - only for Zabaleta to prevent Welbeck from reaching Sanchez's cross.

Just as Arsenal appeared to be fading once more, they struck a 64th-minute equaliser through Wilshere.

Aguero lost the ball in midfield and Sanchez pounced, threading a pass to Ramsey who found Wilshere. The England star still had work to do, but he expertly rounded Gael Clichy with a wonderful touch before lofting the ball over Hart.

And nine minutes later Wilshere was involved as Arsenal surged ahead through Sanchez, who volleyed his teammate's header into the net after a failed clearance from Vincent Kompany.

Demichelis capitalised on a mix-up between Laurent Koscielny and Szczesny to plunder City's equaliser and Arsenal were relieved to see the flag to go up after their former player Nasri stabbed the ball into the net in injury time.

Alexis Sanchez hits a superb volley to put Arsenal 2-1 ahead © Getty Images

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