ARSENE WENGER and Arsenal went some way to answering their critics by twice coming from behind to draw 2-2 with Manchester City in the Premier League on Sunday, but securing Champions League qualification appears increasingly unlikely for the Gunners, as intense speculation over the manager’s future continues.

    City led twice through goals from Leroy Sane and Sergio Aguero at Emirates Stadium, only for Pep Guardiola’s men to surrender their advantage on each occasion and miss an opportunity to close the gap on Chelsea following the league leaders’ surprise loss at home to Crystal Palace on Saturday.

    Theo Walcott and Shkodran Mustafi were the men to get the hosts level in the first and second half respectively, a share of the spoils leaving Arsenal sixth in the table, seven points behind fourth-placed City and facing the prospect of missing out on a place in UEFA’s elite competition for the first time during Wenger’s reign.

    The Frenchman, out of contract at the end of the season, is yet to announce a decision on his future amid vociferous protests from some Arsenal supporters, who are likely to remain unconvinced by a determined but characteristically inconsistent performance on home soil.

    City was in front after just five minutes, when Kevin De Bruyne’s quick long pass from inside his own half found a gap in the Arsenal defense. Sane collected the ball and held off Hector Bellerin with ease, before rounding David Ospina and finding the bottom-right corner with a cool finish.

    Arsenal settled and gradually grew into the contest, troubling City down the visitors’ right, where Jesus Navas had been mystifyingly deployed by Guardiola as a makeshift full-back.

    Despite starting to control possession, the Gunners still struggled to create chances, although Fernandinho was called on to make a brilliant sliding tackle to dispossess Alexis Sanchez inside the penalty area in the 29th minute after good work from Nacho Monreal and Mesut Ozil to create the opening.

    The home side was deservedly level with five minutes remaining in the first half, Walcott netting opportunistically from close range after City failed to properly clear a corner, a napping Gael Clichy playing the Arsenal forward onside.(SD-Agencies)