Title rivals Arsenal, Man City draw 0-0

LONDON (AP): Arsenal hit the post twice but could find no way past Manchester City as the Premier League title rivals drew 0-0 on Wednesday.

Robin van Persie and Cesc Fabregas were both denied by the goal frame during a first-half onslaught against a City side lacking adventure.

A powerful long-range strike from Van Persie was turned over by Joe Hart on the hour and the City goalkeeper thwarted the Dutch forward again in stoppage time.

"The way we dominated the game is very positive," Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said. "I feel we had more chances than you usually have in this type of game. They looked to me like they were set up not to lose ... they came here to get a 0-0."

Both sides finished with 10 men after Pablo Zabaleta was sent off for an 89th-minute challenge on Bacary Sagna, who subsequently attempted to headbutt the City defender and was dismissed.

Arsenal remains two points adrift of City in third having played a game less. The draw leaves second-place City two points behind neighbor Manchester United, which also has two games in hand.

"It was very important tonight because it's always difficult to come here and get points," City defender Kolo Toure said after facing his former club. "We wanted to get three points but it was a really difficult game. Arsenal are really in form at the moment.

"The draw is really good. The team played really well and Joe made some fantastic saves."

As City manager Roberto Mancini was forced to fend off claims that his side is boring, Toure leapt to the defense of his side.

"Strikers win you games but defenders win you titles," Toure said. "It was difficult to have chances because Arsenal played very well, but it's good that we didn't lose the game."

The prospect of City winning at Arsenal for the first time since Oct. 1975 always seemed an unlikely proposition after Arsenal's storming start.

Van Persie hit the post after nine minutes and Hart kept out a sidefooted effort from Theo Walcott, who was fed by Wilshere.

City did come close when Gareth Barry's free kick reached Carlos Tevez at the back post, but Alex Song was able to divert the mis-hit shot behind.

From another quick counterattack, though, led by Samir Nasri and Fabregas, Arsenal threatened again. Fabregas struck the same left post that Van Persie hit earlier and from the rebound, Walcott hit the other post but was offside.

"They had good chances in the first 15 to 20 minutes. After that they had good possession but didn't have more chances to score," Mancini said. "In the second half we played better but I think four games in 10 days is very hard and today we were missing important players.

"We wanted to win but Arsenal played better than us, maybe. We defended very well in the second half. If we came here with all players I think it could have been another game but four games, 10 points in 10 days is good. I think it was important not to lose this game."

Walcott felt aggrieved not to have been awarded a penalty before halftime when his cross hit Vincent Kompany's trailing arm.