Manchester City equalized in the 98th minute to deny Arsenal a first win at the Etihad Stadium since January 2015 and stay at the top of the Premier League table.
It was a monumental effort from the Gunners, who played the entire second half with ten men after Leandro Trossard was sent off just before half-time.
Erling Haaland’s 100th goal for Manchester City opened the scoring and it looked like the home side would maintain their unbeaten start to the campaign. But Arsenal hit back, first with a Riccardo Calafiori stunner and then Gabriel’s bullet header for the second game in a row.
arsenal they had their backs against the wall after Trossard’s avoidable dismissal, but just as City seemed to have run out of ideas, John Stones wrote the headlines that could prove key in May.
How the game developed
It was the most anticlimactic start to a big game imaginable, with an uphill melee between Kai Havertz and Rodri within the first ten seconds that left the latter on the ground receiving treatment for over a minute as the clock ticked down .
The first chance went the hosts’ way when Ilkay Gundogan volleyed wide after a majestic touch created the opening; the finish was definitely the hardest skill. But Haaland’s first goal was not far behind, headed in by Savinho’s quick turn and pass. Given the goal, there would only be one result from the flying Norwegian.
City got off to a blistering start and Gundogan soon hit the post with a smart free-kick. Things could have been very different if that strike had been on the net.
Although Calafiori wasn’t covered in glory for City’s opener, the Italian made up for it in spectacular fashion when he fired Arsenal seemingly out of nowhere from the edge of the box. City were angry, however, as referee Michael Oliver flagged down Kyle Walker just before an Arsenal free-kick and allowed the defender to return to his position.
Gabriel, another who had been poor for Haaland’s goal, should have scored shortly before. The two attempts at the end of the half were very similar, getting a run to the ball in a corner. The first flew over the top, the next hit the back of the net. However, the game quickly turned again when Trossard received a second yellow, it was not clear whether this was as a result of his barge into the back of Bernardo Silva, or if he kicked the ball away without any heart after
A man down invited pressure from Arsenal, but the visitors did a great job of repelling it, limiting City to only shots from distance in the opening bars of the second half. But David Raya soon had to channel the spirit of Gordon Banks from the 1970 World Cup, clearing Pelé’s header from Haaland. The Spaniard then got his legs in the way of one from Josko Gvardiol as the intensity grew and grew.
Absorbing the pressure, Arsenal were increasingly happy for Walker, Guardiol and Ruben Dias to have the ball on the edge of their box, above Gundogan or Silva. City were still mostly limited to shots from distance that were either blocked or never troubled Raya.
With moments remaining, it looked like City’s moment had come when the ball dropped inviting Guardiol. But the well-struck volley was met by Raya’s outstretched arms.
The seven minutes of added time indicated had elapsed when word came from the VAR that the match would continue until 99. And it was in those extra moments that Stones became City’s hero, capitalizing on a rebound that fell to him at the feet This time there was nothing Raya, having thrown himself to the ground for the initial shot, could not do to stop him.
GK: Ederson – 4/10 – He could have been more aggressive when the corner went straight into the six-yard box for Gabriel’s header, but it ended up being blocked. He got more goals than shutouts.
RB: Kyle Walker (c) – 5/10 – He may feel slightly aggrieved to be taken out of position just before the first goal. But it was completely ended by Gabriel’s move for Arsenal’s second.
CB: Ruben Dias – 4/10 – Camped in Arsenal’s half as an extra midfielder in the second half, not seeming to know what to do with the ball. The visitors were happy to let him have it as his final ball and shooting skills were poor to say the least.
CB: Manuel Akanji – 6/10 – He stopped defending in the middle and kept going forward.
LB: Josko Guardiol – 7/10 – His efforts were among City’s best in their attack on the Arsenal goal, forcing good saves from Raya.
CM: Rodri – N/A – He appeared to make the most of Havertz hitting him, but was unable to continue after appearing to hit his knee just under 20 minutes in.
CM: Ilkay Gundogan – 6/10 – He held on to a very good early opportunity when he had done the hard part initially. Bad luck hitting a post soon after.
RM: Savinho – 7/10 – He scored the first goal with a dazzling turn and a dazzling through ball and was probably City’s most dangerous spark for long periods.
AM: Bernardo Silva – 6/10 – He couldn’t direct a good chance on goal after Raya had initially saved a header from Haaland. He had plenty of touches in Arsenal’s third, but it was harder to make it count.
Champions League: Jeremy Doku – 6/10 – He looked to make things happen, but a couple of blocked shots from outside the box were his most significant actions.
ST: Erling Haaland – 6/10 – He took his first goal very well, with the first shot at the near post seeming to foul Raya. Chances dried up as Arsenal closed down the penalty area.
Substitutes
SUB: Mateo Kovacic (22′ for Rodri) – 5/10
SUB: Phil Foden (69′ for the documentary) – 4/10
SUB: John Stones (79′ for Walker) – 7/10
SUB: Jack Grealish (79′ for Savinho) – 6/10
Subs not used: Stefan Ortega (GK), Scott Carson (GK), Rico Lewis, Matheus Nunes, James McAtee.
manager
Pep Guardiola – 7/10 – Between Rodri’s sending-off and Arsenal’s goal, he was angry at times in the first half. There wasn’t much other than his gear.
GK: David Raya – 9/10 – He made important saves, notably from a Haaland header and a Gvardiol volley, as City camped in Arsenal’s half after the break. Claiming a stoppage time corner summed up his huge contribution.
RB: Jurrien Timber – 8/10 – His game was all about defending, fighting to get forward, but he absolutely shut down his side of the pitch.
CB: William Saliba – 8/10 – Haaland had the body in the beginning, but then won this duel in the general.
CB: Gabriel – 7/10 – He seemed to have no idea where he was when Haaland was played in to score. He became a real threat on set pieces to counter that lapse.
LB: Riccardo Calafiori – 7/10 – Compensated for questionable positioning with an excellent equalizer.
RM: Bukayo Saka (c) – 5/10 – Sacrifice tactically at half-time, having barely touched the ball apart from taking a corner kick for Gabriel’s header.
CM: Thomas Partey – 7/10 – He fought hard to try and stop City getting their way.
CM: Declan Rice – 7/10 – He protected the back four heroically…almost.
LM: Gabriel Martinelli – 7/10 – He played his part in Arsenal’s second goal by making sure Ederson couldn’t get a clear run to the ball. The VAR looked and said it was fine. Calm with the ball.
ST: Kai Havertz – 6/10 – He caused controversy seven seconds after bumping into Rodri. His impact was very limited, he did not complete a single accurate pass in the entire match, but he defended from the front.
ST: Leandro Trossard – 3/10 – He let his team down with what ended up being an unnecessary second yellow.
Substitutes
SUB: Ben White (46′ for Saka) – 7/10
SUB: Jakub Kiwior (74′ for Calafiori) – 7/10
SUB: Gabriel Jesus (88′ for Martinelli) – N/A
SUB: Myles Lewis-Skelly (90+2′ for Timber) – N/A
Subs not used: Neto (GK), Maldini Kacurri, Jorginho, Ethan Nwaneri, Raheem Sterling.
manager
Mikel Arteta – 8/10 – He changed things to a back five at half-time when his side were a goal up but a man down, but opted for four in midfield and no outlet up front. This meant the pressure was huge, but parking the bus almost turned out to be the perfect tactic
Man of the Match – David Raya (Arsenal)
