Warning Shots

A visibly pumped up Jack Wilshere celebrates his stylish equaliser against City

The tables were turned on Arsenal this weekend as the Gunners conceded a late goal to deny them victory against Manchester City in a thrilling 2-2 draw at the Emirates

A second win for the Gunners was snatched away in the 83rd minute of a highly entertaining encounter when City defender Demichelis found himself unmarked at a corner, powering a late header into the net.

Arsenal showed fantastic resolve to battle back from 1-0 down in what will surely be one of the most high-paced, all-action matches of the season.

Arsenal lined up as follows: Szczesny, Mertesacker, Debuchy, Monreal, Koscielny, Flamini, Sánchez, Özil, Ramsey, Wilshere, Welbeck 

A debut for new boy Danny Welbeck (or 'Dat guy Welbz' as the players and social media has taken to calling the striker) and an impressive one at that. Welbeck played the no.9 position beautifully winning headers when required and making incisive runs in behind.

Welbz hit the post in an early effort after some superb pressure from the midfield forced an error. A poor back pass played the striker clean through where he showed composure to deftly flick a lob over an onrushing shampoo model turned goalkeeper Joe Hart, but had to watch as the ball turned off the inside of the post and back into the arms of the England No.1

Welbeck and 60,000 Arsenal fans share a moment of disbelief as the Arsenal striker's chipped effort hits the post

The Gunners were made to a pay for a host of missed chances when in the 28th minute City launched a blistering counter-attack, neatly finished by their talismanic striker Sergio Aguero, who looks to be over the injury problems that plagued his world cup and early season form

The sides went into halftime with the score still at 0-1 to last season's champions, however Arsenal looked the more likely to score throughout the half, the City goal coming against the run of play.

Not to be disheartened by the blow, Arsenal pressed on in the second half picking up where they left off, pressuring the City defense with plenty of neat one-touch possession in the final third.

Jack Wilshere and Alexis Sanchez both had their best games in an Arsenal shirt doing everything right. They chased back possession, broke through tackles and looked hungry for a victory. The physicality they brought to the match is something we haven't seen for a long time; check out this from Wilshere on Samir Nasri.

The equaliser eventually came in the 63rd minute when Wilshere was released on the edge of the box, beating a defender with a feigned shot and drag on his left foot leaving him face-to-face with Hart on the near post. Cue one of the finishes of the season so far in a chip that left the City keeper bamboozled, flapping his arms like a toddler trying to catch a ball.

After that the pendulum had definitely swung in the reds favour and Arsenal had attack after attack, whilst defending well. Nasri replaced Lampard at halftime who looked for all the world like a spent force, his major contribution in his 45 minutes on the pitch was receiving a yellow card for a tactical foul on Ramsey.

Lampard struggled to match the pace of the game in his debut for City

Sanchez got the goal to take Arsenal into the lead on 74 minutes, Arsenal's second of the afternoon and the Chilean's third in as many games for his new club. Wilshere got the assist with a speculative header back into the box which looped over the City defense finding Alexis unmarked at the back post. His first time side-footed volley was a thing of beauty, powering past Hart and into the roof of the net.

For all their effort to get back into the match, Arsenal's intensity dropped off after taking the lead. As is so often the case with Arsenal sides there is a resolve to fight back but worryingly the same defensive frailties which have cost us league titles in the past are creeping back in.

City fought to get back into the game. After winning a corner with 10 minutes to go, a good cross found Demichelis completely unmarked on the penalty spot, the Argentine taking the chance well, guiding the ball into the top right corner. It looked as though Szczesny and Flamini got in each other's way a bit and perhaps the Frenchman may have been able to head the ball off the line had the keeper not got a hand to it.

I thought Arsenal had shaken the tag of poor defensive side after last years dominant display by Koscielny, Mertesacker and Szczesny where the Gunners kept the most clean sheets in the league. Four matches played and Arsenal have already conceded 6 goals, scoring 7.

Chambers came on as a late substitution after Debuchy had to be stretchered off. The Frenchman appeared to over stretch himself chasing a ball and landed awkwardly, rolling his ankle. Debuchy injury reports vary between 2 to 3 months out, but knowing our luck don't hold out for a speedy recovery. This means that Chambers will start right-back with Bellerin promoted to the bench, leaving us with no outright cover at centre back.

Arsenal's injury misfortune has followed them into the 2014/15 campaign despite appointment of new fitness coach Shad Forsythe

There were moments in Saturday's premier league clash with City where I thought this side could be the best Wenger has put together in over half a decade.

The team had pace, power and skill throughout and although a relatively small signing, Danny Welbeck already looks like the missing piece in a handsome jigsaw puzzle of awesomeness.

There were, however, also moments where I thought this team is still missing something to make us true championship contenders, particularly in defense.

A very interesting and worrying statistic is that Arsenal have conceded a headed goal in all four of their matches so far this season. I think this is because of the changes to our fullbacks, compared to last year.

In my opinion Debuchy offers so much more going forward than Bacary Sagna. We saw on the weekend how the Frenchman drew a foul after he skipped past Milner with a clever dummy. That is something Sagna would never do, always looking to cut back inside, slowing the attack down.

However on the flip side Sagna is a better backs-to-the-wall defender than Debuchy, with a greater aerial athleticism that meant he was more adept at dealing with high balls late in the game, even scoring a couple of headed chances last season.

On the other flank Monreal is by no means the quality of Kieran Gibbs, who really has followed in a proud tradition of Arsenal left-backs, a position Wenger unquestionably knows how to scout for.

Although Monreal is of a high pedigree, having been plucked during the mass clearance sale at Malaga along with Cazorla, he always looks a little out of sorts and frantic and was definitely targeted by City.

Combine this with a license for the full backs to get forward and Arsenal have been left exposed countless times already this season. A moment's carelessness in possession, a misplaced pass when we are committed to attacking and the opposing team only have to beat three players en route to the Arsenal goal.

To leave you on a positive note, Arsenal have now scored 5 goals in two matches against City (3 in the Community Shield) suggesting that as an attacking force we are right up there capable of dissecting one of the best defences in the league.

Let's hope we can balance the side a little more and rack up those clean sheets, starting with Dortmund tonight and Villa on the weekend.

Thanks for reading!

Leicester v Arsenal Review

Even the Welsh Jesus couldn't find the winning goal against Leicester

Arsenal lacked bite upfront in a disappointing 1-1 draw against Leicester at the King Power Stadium.

Arsenal missed an opportunity to go into third place by giving away a 1- 0 lead after Alexis Sanchez found the net midway through the first half.

The Chilean scored his first premier league goal for the Gunners, making it two goals in as many games having already scored in Arsenal's 1-0 win against Besiktas in the Champions League qualifiers.

Arsenal lined up as follows: Szczesny, Monreal, Koscielny, Mertesacker, Debuchy, Flamini, Ramsey, Ozil, Cazorla, Sanchez and Sanogo

A surprise inclusion for Yaya after many, myself included, predicted Wenger would go for the same side that played against Besiktas.

Instead Wilshere and Oxlade-chamberlain dropped to the bench and Cazorla and Sanogo started.

The game began brightly for both sides and the game slipped comfortably into an end-to-end affair we are used to seeing when Arsenal are involved.

As we predicted Leicester stuck to the approach that saw them earn a draw against Everton and give Chelsea a tough time at Stamford Bridge.

The crucial moment in the game came when Koscielny and Schlupp were involved in a clash of heads towards the far touchline.

Both players stayed down for some time, however Koscielny looked the more injured and returned to the field wearing what looked like a swimming cap.

The Frenchman appeared to have overcome the incident however he would later find that he hadn't much to Arsenal's cost.

The Gunners took the lead not long after the clash of heads through a great bit of link up play. Santi Cazorla played a crisp lofted through-ball to Sanogo who made a smart, well-timed run finding himself through on goal with only Casper Schmeichel to beat.

Yaya's effort was soft but caught Schmeichel by surprise as he was expecting a lob, the Dane only able to parry the ball across his own goal where Sanchez pounced to slot the ball home.

Arsenal were only in the lead for two minutes however as Leicester immediately struck back.

Arsenal's defence looked sluggish and out-of position when Leicester broke on the counter attack. Leicetser's Ulloa was tracked by Koscielny who then completely lost his man and misread the flight of the ball allowing the Argentine a clear header which, although not the best placed had enough power to go past Szczesny.

Koscielny immediately signalled his intention to leave the pitch, clearly still suffering and even in the minutes leading up to both goals had looked unassured in 50/50 challenges where he would usually clean up.

Although both sides had good chances (the majority of Leicester's coming through Mahrez who looks sharp) Arsenal could have snatched a late goal, as they so often have this season.

Late substitutions for Arsenal saw Oxlade-Chamberlain and Podolski take to the field with about 15 minutes remaining.

This looked to be too little too late as both players struggled to get up to match speed with such little time remaining.

So far this season Wenger has been quick to make substitutions and those he does make go on to have an impact. Perhaps Wilshere needed a rest but I would have brought on the young Englishman in place of Sanogo and moved Sanchez up top and replaced Ozil with either Campbell or the Ox.

The match ended 1-1 but the sense was that this was another game which Arsenal wasted opportunities in front of goal, a clear sign that Wenger must bring in a marquee striker. Let's hope for some assured activity on deadline day!