Manchester City have opened the door for neighbours Manchester United to go above them and into the top four by drawing 2-2 at home to Arsenal this afternoon.

It was a fast start from City, and they had the lead in the eighth minute when Sergio Aguero collected a knockdown from Fernandinho before drilling low inside Petr Cech's near post with his left foot.

The goal was Aguero's 24th in the league this season and took him level with Jamie Vardy and one behind Harry Kane in the golden-boot race.

The Argentine has now scored in six straight Premier League games, but it was an out-of-form striker who was then celebrating as Arsenal instantly hit back.

Exactly two minutes after the opener, Olivier Giroud scored for the first time in 16 league games by heading home from a corner after former Arsenal defender Gael Clichy had headed against the outside of his own post and behind for the set piece.

It was a frantic start, but chances became few and far between in the remainder of the opening period as City continued to have the brighter moments but failed to carve out any clear-cut openings.

Arsenal's Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain was ruled out of Euro 2016 earlier this week, and there must now be concerns over the fitness of Danny Welbeck after the forward had to go off with an apparent knee problem midway through the first half.

The home side doubled their lead not long after the resumption as Kevin De Bruyne surged forward from near-halfway before cutting inside and picking out the bottom corner with a skidding low shot that Cech failed to stop at his near post.

Arsene Wenger replaced the ineffective Alex Iwobi with Theo Walcott before the hour, and the latter had a chance to level the scores shortly after coming on but lifted the ball wide after a flowing move from the visitors.

The Gunners were celebrating seconds later, though, as Alexis Sanchez showed Walcott the way with a classy finish after linking up well with Giroud.

De Bruyne and Aguero both went close to restoring City's lead and then combined brilliantly, with Aguero volleying inches wide in the 74th minute.

There was one last chance for City to grab the points on Manuel Pellegrini's last home match in charge, but substitute Wilfried Bony saw his well-timed sidefoot volley slap back off the face of the crossbar.

A draw means that City are only two points ahead of United, who have a game more to play and will be guaranteed of a Champions League place if they win their last two matches away at West Ham United and at home to Bournemouth.

Arsenal, meanwhile, miss the chance to draw level on points with second-placed Tottenham Hotspur, who lost at home to Southampton earlier, but they will finish above their North London rivals if they beat Aston Villa and Spurs lose against Newcastle United on the final day.