City couldn't capitalise on Chelsea's shock defeat at Selhurst Park after Mathieu Flamini cancelled out David Silva's early opener. Despite dominating the opening 45 minutes and taking a deserved lead through Silva, City were pegged back in the second period with Mathieu Flamini levelling for Wenger's side.

City looked hungry to pick up where they left off after the trilling victory away to rivals United, Jesus Navas curling an effort just beyond the left-hand post from 18 yards in the opening few minutes.

Rosicky went down under the challenge of Zabaleta in the penalty area 12 minutes in, but referee Mike Dean waved away Arsenal's protests, with replays suggesting that it was probably the correct call. City took the lead inside the first twenty minutes when Silva teed up Dzeko. Arsenal keeper Szczesny tipped his shot onto the post but Silva was the quickest to react and, whether by luck or intention, he poked the ball into the empty net.

The ball was in the City net after 21 minutes - but Arsenal midfielder Flamini had already been flagged offside from a deep left-wing cross before he looped his shot over Joe Hart.

Yaya Toure, who had a trial at Arsenal as a raw youngster, was booked on 30 minutes for tugging back Rosicky on the break. City skipper Vincent Kompany then also saw a yellow card for body-checking Arteta. Rosicky was the next man cautioned for another full-blooded challenge on former Gunners full-back Gael Clichy. Silva soon followed after he left a high boot in on Arteta as the Spaniard hacked a clearance away in the Arsenal box.

City almost doubled their lead at the start of the second half when Navas' low cross from the right was spilled by Szczesny, and the ball deflected off Arsenal defender Mertesacker but just the wrong side of the post. The face of the game changed eight minutes into the second half when Flamini atoned for his midweek misfortune by diverting Podolski's cross into the back of the net from a central position in the penalty area, drawing Arsenal level with his second goal since returning to the club last year.

City boss Pellegrini made a change on 65 minutes as James Milner came on for Navas.With 13 minutes left, Wenger sent on Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain for Podolski, before City substitute Javi Garcia replaced Nasri. With ten minutes left Negredo also replaced Dzeko.

Arsenal continued to push on but City, always dangerous on the counter, were not about to throw away what could just turn out to be a crucial point in their title quest. Southampton next,followed by a trip to Anfield which is shaping up to be possibly City's biggest game of the season.

Photo: Action Images

Queens Park Rangers Polls