EPL ~ City successfully parked the bus at the Emirates

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Arsenal failed to break down a stubborn Manchester City side at the Emirates as both sides missed the chance to put pressure on leaders Manchester United.

The Gunners, third in the Premier League, were the better team throughout but Robin van Persie, Cesc Fabregas and Theo Walcott all struck the post.

Walcott felt he should have had a penalty and Van Persie forced a stunning save from keeper Joe Hart.

Bacary Sagna and Pablo Zabaleta were sent off after a late confrontation.

It was a disappointing way for the game to finish, with Sagna guilty of leaning his head in towards Zabaleta's after a challenge by the touchline, though what the Argentine did to warrant a dismissal is anyone's guess.

Arsenal will be the more frustrated of the teams as the result keeps City second, two points behind United having played two games more, while the Gunners are four points behind having played once more than the leaders.

A goalless draw seemed the least likely outcome when the game started at a pace of stunning ferocity as Arsenal, keen to establish themselves as United's principal challengers this season, stormed out of the blocks in thrilling fashion.

They tore into a stunned City and there was only a minute on the clock when Samir Nasri slipped Jack Wilshere into the area, the 19-year-old's left-foot pass to the far post agonisingly evading a lunging Van Persie.

City responded immediately with a lightning-quick counter-attack as the template for the game was set; James Milner collected a Yaya Toure pass on the right-hand side of the box, but the midfielder wastefully lashed his shot wide of the far post.

With Carlos Tevez chasing down every lost cause like his life depended on it City always had an out ball, but Arsenal had such a monopoly on possession that they barely had to give thought even to the Argentine.

As the Gunners attacked in unrelenting waves of red the opportunities started to fall their way, as the outstanding Wilshere fired at Hart and then Van Persie jinked into space only to see his arrow-like 18-yard left-foot rocket shot cannon back off the base of Hart's right-hand post.

Wilshere had another shot saved low down by Hart as City struggled to keep up with Arsenal's flowing forward play, the home team always appeared to be one step ahead as City boss Roberto Mancini showed his annoyance by remonstrating with his players on the touchline.

Walcott dragged another presentable chance wide before Arsenal - who by this stage must have thought they were cursed - hit the woodwork twice in succession as Cesc Fabregas rifled against the inside of Hart's right-hand post from the edge of the box before Walcott hammered the rebound high up against the other upright.

City were always only one clever break away from going ahead against the run of play and Tevez volleyed wide from 20 yards out after one such move that threatened to catch the visitors out, but that merely provided the visiting defenders with a momentary respite from their exertions.

Walcott thought he should have had a penalty when his cross appeared to strike the arm of Vincent Kompany and, either side of the break, Van Persie forced Hart to save one shot and fired another wide as City's goal continued to lead a charmed life.

England number one Hart produced a magnificent moment to deny Van Persie once more just after the hour mark, leaping across his goal to fingertip the Dutchman's crashing 25-yard, top corner-bound drive away.

City sent on Adam Johnson for the ineffective Jo and the Englishman at least gave notice that he wanted to run at the Arsenal defence, but his team-mates had been run into the ground by then and no-one could get up in support of the winger.

As injury time approached, Zabaleta slid in on Sagna and the Frenchman reacted furiously, leaning his head into the left-back in similar fashion to Younes Kaboul when the Spurs man was sent off against Newcastle last week.

It was surprising to see referee Mike Jones flash his red card in the direction of Zabaleta as well as Sagna, but perhaps it was a fittingly frustrating end to a game which never quite adequately came to life.

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Crunch: Theo Walcott was one of three Arsenal players to be denied by the post

Little wonder Manchester City are tempted to let the punches fly in training because they are so stifled and restrained when they venture on to the pitch.

It is safe to say Roberto Mancini won few friends at the Emirates. His team came for a point, got it and left to the sound of ‘Boring Boring City’ and ‘What a Waste of Money’.

Frustrated Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas engaged Mancini in a heated conversation as the teams left the pitch. The City boss later said they had been talking about the red cards handed out to Bacary Sagna and Pablo Zabaleta.

It got too much for Sagna, who over-reacted to a challenge from Zabaleta by going head to head with the City defender. Both players were sent off by referee Mike Jones, though Zabaleta appeared harshly treated.

Somewhere in Manchester, Edin Dzeko had been having a medical but will City’s new £27million centre forward make any difference in a team which had four attempts at goal, none of them on target?

Reason to be cheerful: Joe Hart was exceptional in the Manchester City goal

Mancini kept a leash on his full-backs and protected his back four with Gareth Barry and Nigel de Jong. His tactics were devoid of ambition and they produced the best possible result for leaders Manchester United.

Claim: Walcott thought he had a shout for a penalty when the ball hit Vincent Kompany on the hand

In Jose Mourinho parlance, City parked the bus but the reaction of Fabregas and the Arsenal supporters was sour. It is the responsibility of their team to break down those who arrive in such cautious mood.

In response to allegations that his team were boring, Mancini said: ‘It’s not important for me. I prefer to go home with one point because when you play here against Arsenal, it could be that they play better than you and you might defend, and this is football.’

As ever, the Gunners ruined their wonderfully fluent football with over-elaboration and a succession of missed opportunities.

Joe Hart made some superb saves and his goal was blessed. Three times his woodwork was rattled in the first half but the pattern of the game was set in the second minute, when Samir Nasri slalomed down the centre of the pitch.

Nasri has been outstanding this season and Arsenal are already in talks to improve and extend his contract, keeping him at the club until 2015. On this occasion, he slid Jack Wilshere in on goal with a pass to his left, Wilshere shaped to shoot, then tried to drag a pass square, heavy with disguise, towards Robin van Persie. It would have been a simple tap-in had his pass found the Dutchman but it didn't. Theo Walcott retrieved the ball from beyond the back post and quickly turned it back to Fabregas but Kolo Toure dived in to smother the danger.

‘We had the performance but not the result,’ said Wenger. ‘I wasn’t surprised. They came here last year for a 0-0.’

Flare up: Zabaleta and Sagna square up

Butt: Sagna oversteps the mark

Off: Referee Mike Jones brandishes the card to both

Apart from the live proposal at half-time (she said yes), there was no satisfaction for the Gunners, who could have leapt above City into second with a win.

Arsenal’s frustration boiled over in the final minute when Sagna responded childishly to a clumsy challenge from Zabaleta. It was the sort of incident which would barely command a second glance on the City training pitch.