Demichelis denies Arsenal all three points

Jack Wilshere impressed for Arsenal on Saturday

Four goals but only two points handed out as Arsenal and Manchester City split the spoils on Saturday lunchtime. Alex Johnson rounds up the action.

Arsenal had to settle for a third draw in a row as a late Martin Demichelis goal ensured the spoils were shared with Manchester City.

The Gunners preserved their unbeaten start to the season after a thoroughly entertaining clash with City at the Emirates, and the visitors looked rejuvenated after their shock loss to Stoke last time out.

Arsene Wenger gave a debut to new signing Danny Welbeck following his deadline-day transfer from Manchester United. The England striker enjoyed a bright start to his Arsenal career and should have been celebrating his first goal in a red-and-white shirt after only 12 minutes. He was gifted a chance by a shocking David Silva pass and raced through on goal. Welbeck lifted the ball over the oncoming Joe Hart and looked set to wheel off in celebration, but he was halted as the ball came back off the post.

Arsenal started brightly and were all over their opponents in the opening period. The hosts were on top in midfield as Frank Lampard struggled to make an impression on his City debut. Welbeck was particularly bright and he set up Aaron Ramsey, but the midfielder drilled a low drive straight at Hart from the edge of the box.

City slowly grew into the game and silenced the Emirates crowd when they took a shock lead on 28 minutes. They hit Arsenal on the break as Jesus Navas led the attack down City's right wing. He took the ball forward and waited for Sergio Aguero to catch up before sliding a perfect pass that the Argentinian striker buried first time with a low finish into the bottom corner.

Silva almost doubled City's lead just four minutes later as Arsenal were thankful to Wojciech Szczesny for keeping out the diminutive Spaniard. The visitors grew in confidence after taking the lead and restricted Arsenal to shots from range in the closing stages of the first half.

Arsenal improved after the break and got the equaliser their play deserved when, on 63 minutes, they won the ball in midfield and Alexis Sanchez played Jack Wilshere into the box. The Englishman showed neat feet to get past his marker before slotting a composed finish past Hart from a tight angle.

The Gunners grew in confidence after that goal and looked dangerous every time they came forward. After the former Arsenal man, and Emirates pantomime villain, Samir Nasri shot straight at Szczesny, the home side then turned the game around when they got their second.

A cross from Ramsey was cleared only as far as Wilshere, who headed the ball back into the box and Sanchez was all alone near the penalty spot to hit a first-time volley that arrowed into the top corner to send the Emirates faithful into delirium. At this point of the game, Wilshere was controlling midfield and he then created a fantastic chance for Ramsey, who just couldn't make a proper connection in the box.

However, the joy around the Emirates was short-lived as Demichelis was left unmarked at a corner on 83 minutes and he rose highest in the box to power a header into the top corner. Szczesny tried in vain to keep it out but he actually managed to palm the ball into the net and away from the Arsenal man covering on the line.

City almost grabbed a late winner when Aleksandar Kolarov chased down a loose ball and rifled a powerful drive that came out of nowhere and struck the post. Only moments later and, as Edin Dzeko and Laurent Koscielny challenged for a dropping ball, it ricocheted off the pair and looped over the keeper, only for the post to come to Arsenal's rescue again.

In injury time the Gunners were grateful to Szczesny as he pulled off a fantastic save to keep out Dzeko, while the flag went up for offside as Nasri prodded the rebound in. Both teams will rue missed chances, but it was a great contest between two entertaining teams and a draw was possibly the fairest result.