Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger praised Jack Wilshere after the midfielder played more than an hour in energy-sapping heat against Manchester City to help his team twice fight back to gain a 2-2 draw at The Etihad.

Wilshere gave one of his trademark combative performances as he joined Mohamed Elneny and Aaron Ramsey in central midfield following an injury to Danny Welbeck on 21 minutes.

The 24-year-old looked ring-rusty at times as he attempted to adjust to the high tempo of the encounter but overall he acquitted himself well after a long spell out of the team.

The midfielder from Hitchin showed his character by looking to drive forward from the base of midfield while contributing defensively with brave blocks, tackles and interceptions. His vision and passing also saw only four of his 29 passes failing to find a team-mate – the highest of any Gunner on the pitch.

Speaking after the game Wenger said: “I feel that Jack played well today.

“He will have benefitted from the high intensity of the game.

“His performance and thew way he played overall for us was good.

“In the last ten minutes we could have won the game but so could they. We showed good character in a very intense game.”

Goals from Olivier Giroud on nine minutes and Alexis Sanchez on 68 minutes saw the Gunners pull back deficits after Sergio Aguero on seven minutes and Kevin de Bruyne after the restart put City in front twice – to see Wishere and his colleagues gain a creditable 2-2 draw in an entertaining game.