EPL: Argentine duo deny Arsenal
Aguero, Demichelis lead City to 2-2 draw in Premier League thriller
LONDON:
Martin Demichelis scored an 83rd-minute equaliser as champions Manchester City held Arsenal to a 2-2 draw in an entertaining Premier League encounter at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday.
Arsenal looked set for victory when Alexis Sanchez slammed home a sumptuous volley in the 74th minute, after Jack Wilshere's neatly constructed goal had cancelled out Sergio Aguero's first-half opener for City.
But Argentina centre-back Demichelis headed in an Aleksandar Kolarov corner to prevent Manuel Pellegrini's side from slumping to a second consecutive defeat after their shock 1-0 loss at home to Stoke City.
"I think it was a great game: two very good teams, who try to play,” City manager Pellegrini told BT Sport. “Both teams are very creative.
"But both goals by Arsenal were very clear fouls: the first one, two or three continuous fouls, and the second one, [Danny] Welbeck on Vincent [Kompany]."
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger drew encouragement from the way his side came from behind to lead, but he was also given serious cause for concern by an ankle injury to right-back Mathieu Debuchy.
"It was a game of top quality and we did remarkably well to come back, but then we gave a cheap goal away," said Wenger.
"Debuchy has a bad ankle sprain. I don't know how long he will be out for, but it doesn't look too good."
Falcao and co begin new United era
Manchester United will give debuts to a posse of new players, including Radamel Falcao, when they attempt to kickstart their flatlining Premier League season against Queens Park Rangers on Sunday.
Falcao was the headline acquisition of United's £150 million close-season splurge and is expected to get his first run-out at Old Trafford following his loan move from Monaco.
Fellow new signings Marcos Rojo, Daley Blind and Luke Shaw are also in line to make their debuts, the latter having overcome a hamstring problem, while record-signing Angel di Maria will make his first home appearance.
United's need for reinforcements was emphasised by a disappointing start to the season in which they failed to record a win in their first three league games and were bundled out of the League Cup by third-tier Milton Keynes Dons.
With players such as Robin van Persie, Juan Mata and captain Wayne Rooney also at his disposal, manager Louis van Gaal now faces a challenge to accommodate all of his star names in his preferred 3-4-1-2 formation.
But he says that the competition for places at Old Trafford is a dilemma that every manager would like to have.
"For a coach, it is always easy because he can decide," the Dutchman told his weekly press conference.
"He decides always what he sees. I don't have any worries about that because I have done that already, for more than 25 years.
"You always want to buy the best players for the positions. I think we have done very good in the transfer window. Despite not being in the Champions League, the players are coming to United.
"We have to produce results, and have to start that on Sunday against QPR."
Martin Demichelis scored an 83rd-minute equaliser as champions Manchester City held Arsenal to a 2-2 draw in an entertaining Premier League encounter at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday.
Arsenal looked set for victory when Alexis Sanchez slammed home a sumptuous volley in the 74th minute, after Jack Wilshere's neatly constructed goal had cancelled out Sergio Aguero's first-half opener for City.
But Argentina centre-back Demichelis headed in an Aleksandar Kolarov corner to prevent Manuel Pellegrini's side from slumping to a second consecutive defeat after their shock 1-0 loss at home to Stoke City.
"I think it was a great game: two very good teams, who try to play,” City manager Pellegrini told BT Sport. “Both teams are very creative.
"But both goals by Arsenal were very clear fouls: the first one, two or three continuous fouls, and the second one, [Danny] Welbeck on Vincent [Kompany]."
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger drew encouragement from the way his side came from behind to lead, but he was also given serious cause for concern by an ankle injury to right-back Mathieu Debuchy.
"It was a game of top quality and we did remarkably well to come back, but then we gave a cheap goal away," said Wenger.
"Debuchy has a bad ankle sprain. I don't know how long he will be out for, but it doesn't look too good."
Falcao and co begin new United era
Manchester United will give debuts to a posse of new players, including Radamel Falcao, when they attempt to kickstart their flatlining Premier League season against Queens Park Rangers on Sunday.
Falcao was the headline acquisition of United's £150 million close-season splurge and is expected to get his first run-out at Old Trafford following his loan move from Monaco.
Fellow new signings Marcos Rojo, Daley Blind and Luke Shaw are also in line to make their debuts, the latter having overcome a hamstring problem, while record-signing Angel di Maria will make his first home appearance.
United's need for reinforcements was emphasised by a disappointing start to the season in which they failed to record a win in their first three league games and were bundled out of the League Cup by third-tier Milton Keynes Dons.
With players such as Robin van Persie, Juan Mata and captain Wayne Rooney also at his disposal, manager Louis van Gaal now faces a challenge to accommodate all of his star names in his preferred 3-4-1-2 formation.
But he says that the competition for places at Old Trafford is a dilemma that every manager would like to have.
"For a coach, it is always easy because he can decide," the Dutchman told his weekly press conference.
"He decides always what he sees. I don't have any worries about that because I have done that already, for more than 25 years.
"You always want to buy the best players for the positions. I think we have done very good in the transfer window. Despite not being in the Champions League, the players are coming to United.
"We have to produce results, and have to start that on Sunday against QPR."