EPL: Arsenal denied by late Demichelis header

LondonMartin Demichelis late header saved Manchester City from a second successive defeat as the Premier League champions rescued a thrilling 22 draw against Arsenal on SaturdayMan Citys Martin Demichelis celebrates scoring against Arsenal in London on Saturday PicAFPCity who had lost at home to Stoke immediately before the international break appeared set to leave the Emirates Stadium emptyhanded when Arsenal staged a second half comeback with two excellent goals from Jack Wilshere and Alexis Sanchez overturning Sergio Agueros first half openerBut Argentine defender Demichelis was allowed a free header from an 84th minute corner to ensure both teams go into their opening Champions League group games next week having avoided defeat City finished the stronger with Samir Nasri seeing a late effort ruled out for offside but both managers could make a case that their side was hard done byArsenal boss Arsene Wenger will feel his side have made progress after suffering a succession of painful defeats against their top four rivals last season but the Gunners have won only one of their first four league matchesWenger handed a debut to Danny Welbeck whose Acircpound16 million 26 million transfer from Manchester United had lifted the mood among Arsenal supporters critical of Wengers failure to bring in a striker during the transfer windowManuel Pellegrini meanwhile handed a first Manchester City start to Frank Lampard who joined the club on loan after leaving Chelsea as a free agent with the former England midfielder replacing Yaya Toure who was rested following international duty with the Ivory CoastOf the two new faces it was Welbeck who made the bigger impression early on with the forward clearly brimming with confidence following his twogoal display for England in Switzerland in midweekArsenal swaggerWith Arsenal starting the game on the front foot it looked as though Welbeck would make the perfect start when he latched onto a loose ball from Citys David Silva only for his chipped finish to rebound away off the inside of the post with Joe Hart beatenThe effort summed up Arsenals swagger during the opening 25 minutes with Sanchez Wilshere and Aaron Ramsey combining well behind Welbeck By contrast City were getting overrun in midfield and Lampard was largely anonymous before receiving the games first yellow card for a foul on RamseyJesus Navass pace down the right hand flank was the visitors most productive outlet and the winger almost drew an owngoal from Per Mertesacker when the Arsenal defender spooned a low cross over his own cross barThat should have been a warning for Arsenal but it went unheeded with leftback Nacho Monreal again exposed to Navass pace in the buildup to the 28th minute opening goalNavas again broke on the right from halfway before sending a low cross towards Aguero and having taken advantage of Mathieu Flaminis lapse in concentration the Argentina striker pulled into space before finishing from close range It was a familiar story for Arsenal who had enjoyed the majority of possession only to be exposed by the oppositions more clinical finishingThe momentum had shifted Citys way with Arsenal once again looking incapable of matching their main rivals Wenger though insists his side are more resilient this season and the way they responded after the break supported the managers view Wilshere sparked his side into life winning the ball in midfield before exchanging passes with Ramsey moving past Gael Clichy and clipping a right foot finish over Joe Hart for the 63rd minute levellerCitys response was muted and Arsenal forced themselves ahead 11 minutes later when Sanchez latched onto Wilsheres looping header to direct a brilliant volley past Hart City appeared to be heading for a second successive defeat but Arsenal showed they have not shed the tendency to selfdestruct when they left Demichelis unmarked at an Aleksandar Kolarov corner allowing the centreback to head the leveller six minutes from time