Arsenal vs. Manchester City final score: 3 things we learned from the 2-2 draw

Neither Manchester City nor Arsenal will be happy with a 2-2 draw at the Emirates, especially one that saw both teams blow leads, but it was about deserved on the balance of play. The momentum veered wildly back and fourth between the two sides, making great viewing for the neutral (and, one imagines, a fairly traumatic experience for anyone with skin in the game).

It was the hosts who started brighter. Danny Welbeck had an excellent chance to open his Arsenal account early on, during a long spell of control from the home side. David Silva put the chance on a platter for the new signing, bisecting his own defense with a horrendous back pass and leaving Welbeck one-on-one with Joe Hart. The goalkeeper was dispatched with a sumptuous chip, but the ball ended up thwacking off the inside of the far post and back into Hart's arms.

That run of Arsenal dominance ended with a familiar punchline: a ridiculous goal conceded. A neat run from Alexis Sanchez was eventually halted at the edge of Joe Hart's box, and with the Gunners out of position, the visitors pounced. Jesus Navas found space down the right wing, leaving the former Sevilla man to square for Sergio Agüero. There was no mistake in the finish.

The pattern of play reversed in the second half. City were well on top for long spells, but it was Arsenal who scored. Their goal, however, was hardly a counterattack, coming instead straight out of the standard Arsene Wenger playbook. Clever, intricate play released Jack Wilshere for a driving run into the box, the midfielder dropping Gaël Clichy before scooping over Hart at the near post to tie up the match.

The hosts suffered a major blow when Mathieu Debuchy suffered a severe-looking ankle problem with 10 minutes to go, and insult was added to injury when Martín Demichelis moseyed into the box on a rare City corner kick and nodded casually past Wojciech Szczesny for the equalizer.

City looked the more likely winners. Substitute Aleksandar Kolarov hit the post from a tight angle with time winding down, then Edin Dzeko nearly fluked in a bizarre shot. That was followed up by a magnificent Szczesny save from Dzeko and a disallowed Nasri goal, but despite the late surge, the visitors failed to find the net a third time.

Arsenal (4-2-3-1): Wojciech Szczesny; Nacho Monreal, Laurent Koscielny, Per Mertesacker, Mathieu Debuchy (Calum Chambers 81'); Aaron Ramsey, Mathieu Flamini; Mesut Özil, Jack Wilshere, Alexis Sanchez; Danny Welbeck.

Manchester City (4-2-3-1): Joe Hart; Gaël Clichy, Vincent Kompany, Martín Demichelis, Pablo Zabaleta; Frank Lampard (Samir Nasri 45'), Fernandinho (Aleksandar Kolarov 77'); James Milner, David Silva, Jesús Navas; Sergio Agüero (Edin Dzeko 67').

1. City might have a problem in midfield. Although the defending champions added to the squad this summer, picking up Fernando from Porto for a cool €20 million, their double pivot looked more than a little flimsy at the Emirates. Fernando and Fernandinho can back each other up quite happily, but there's nobody who can replace the dynamic presence of Yaya Toure.
   
   The Frank Lampard of a decade ago might have been able to do the job, but the version City have on loan clearly isn't up to the job of controlling the midfield and driving forward against top teams. That the 36-year-old -- who only lasted 45 minutes here -- was Manuel Pellegrini's first option with Touré rested is slightly worrying. James Milner, called in from the left after Lampard was pulled off, wasn't much better. Reinforcements are required before the Ivorian leaves for the Africa Cup of Nations this winter.
   
   
2. Strikers make the difference. Both Danny Welbeck and Sergio Agüero had one big chance apiece in the match, and it's no surprise that the latter converted while the former did not. The big knock against Welbeck, a £16 million deadline day signing from Manchester United, has always been his inability to finish, while Agüero is a consummate poacher. While Welbeck might be more involved in creating chances, he'll need to improve significantly at scoring them for the Gunners to be happy with their purchase.
   
   Unless Sanchez keeps bailing them out, of course.
   
   
3. The Gunners have the same old problems. Arsenal spent almost £50 million this summer in transfer fees, but their two big buys, Alexis Sanchez and Danny Welbeck, did little to fix the obvious issues in the squad. The back five -- that is, the defense and Mathieu Flamini -- were consistently outclassed by City's potent attack, and beyond the starters there's virtually no depth either, especially if Mathieu Debuchy's injury proves serious. No matter what one thinks of Welbeck (Sanchez's quality is in rather less in doubt), it's clear that Arsenal have issues in both quality and quantity, and there were severe defensive issues for both Manchester City goals.