What happened...
Manchester City were pegged back by an experienced Arsenal side in a 3-3 draw at the Emirates Stadium.
A clinical Thierry Ambrose brace and Lukas Nmecha penalty put City ahead before goals from Donyell Malen, Reiss Nelson and Carl Jenkinson in the dying moments earned a point for the hosts.
Both sides shot out of the blocks with City’s brightest moments coming from an offside Denzeil Boadu tap-in and a blocked Jadon Sancho effort while last ditch defensive blocks from Tosin Adarabioyo and Aro Muric kept City’s clean sheet.
Simon Davies’ visitors claimed the advantage in the 16th minute as Boadu and Ambrose linked up before the latter opened his body to tuck his effort into the far corner of Ryan Huddart’s goal.
The French striker had his second for the night – and fourth Premier League 2 goal of the season – just ten minutes later as he latched on to Ed Francis’ exquisite lofted pass and slid the ball under the advancing Huddart.
Despite a lot of City possession, Arsenal pulled one back minutes before the interval as Donyell Malen exploited a gap in the back three and squeezed the ball under Muric.
Arsenal were back on level terms ten minutes into the second half, with Reiss Nelson sending Muric the wrong way following a spell of last ditch defending.
City clawed themselves back into the lead thanks largely to the two substitutes. Isaac Buckley-Ricketts twisted and turned inside the box before being hacked down and it was Nmecha who stepped up to convert.
Arsenal pressed aggressively from that point and it told in the final moments of the five added minutes as first teamer Carl Jenkinson cut inside and beat Muric with his left foot.
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What it means...
The draw takes City to 39 points from 19 matches with just three left to play and they are now five points behind Everton.
City’s Premier League 2 side will welcome Derby to the Academy Stadium on Monday 7 April. Head to the ticket office for more information on how you can support our future.
Key moment...
Brahim Diaz had troubled Cohen Bramall on City’s right wing throughout the night so the left-back could hardly have enjoyed the sight of Isaac Buckley-Ricketts joining the action.
The winger earned the penalty from the full-back and tormented him for the rest of the evening.
Man of the match...
Thierry Ambrose – The French striker is determined to make up for time lost to injury!
A dynamic presence at the head of City’s attack, Ambrose can perform all the link up play required of a modern striker and score a wide variety of goals; skills he fully demonstrated in this match.
How they lined up...
U18s goalkeeper Arijanet Muric was given the opportunity to star in City’s goal.
Cameron Humphreys, Tosin Adarabioyo and Ed Francis were the three-man defence protecting Muric’s goal.
Rodney Kongolo and Matt Smith sat at the base of the midfield behind Paolo Fernandes and Denzeil Boadu while Brahim Diaz and Jadon Sancho flanked central striker Thierry Ambrose.
