Man City 2-2 Arsenal Match Report: 10-man Arsenal earn a point at the Etihad
Man City 2-2 Arsenal Match Report: 10-man Arsenal earn a point at the Etihad. The wait continues, as champions Manchester City popped up with a 97th minute equaliser, to deny Arsenal a win at the Etihad Stadium since January 2015, and as such, maintain top spot at the Premier League table.
It was a monumental effort from the Gunners, who played the whole second half with ten players after Leandro Trossard‘s sending off just before the interval.
It was Erling Haaland’s landmark 100th goal for Manchester City that opened the scoring and looked like it would see the hosts maintain their 💯 percent win rate and unbeaten start to the campaign.
But Arsenal struck back, first with a stunner from Riccardo Calafiori followed by a bullet header from Gabriel for the second game running.
Although, Arsenal then had their backs to the wall after a Trossard’s avoidable dismissal, but just as it looked as though City had run out of ideas, John Stones came clutch, writing the headlines that could prove key come May.
How the game unfolded
It was the most anti-climactic start imaginable to a big game, with a bullish body to body clash between Kai Havertz and Rodri inside the opening ten seconds leaving the latter on the ground receiving treatment for well over a minute as the clock ticked on.
The first chance went the way of the hosts as Ilkay Gundogan lashed wide a volley after a majestic touch created the opening, the finish was arguably the harder skill. But Haaland’s opener wasn’t far behind, threaded through by Savinho’s quick turn and pass.
City’s start was blistering and Gundogan soon struck the post with a clever free-kick. Things might have been very different, had that strike gone in the back of net instead.
While Calafiori didn’t cover himself in glory for City’s opener, the Italian made up for it in spectacular fashion when he fired one into the back of City’s net, to draw Arsenal level.
City were angry, though, because referee Michael Oliver beckoned Kyle Walker over just before an Arsenal free-kick and allowed the set-piece to be taken before the defender was back in position.
Gabriel, another who had been poor for Haaland’s goal, should have scored shortly before he did. Both attempts in the closing stages of the half were very similar, getting a run on the ball at a corner. The first flew narrowly over, the next hit the back of the net. Yet the game then quickly turned again when Trossard was shown a second yellow, not clear if it was a consequence for his barge in the back of Bernardo Silva, or half heartedly kicking the ball away afterwards.
A man down invited pressure for Arsenal, but the visitors did a great job of repelling it, limiting City only to shots from distance in the early stages of the second half. But David Raya soon had to channel the spirit of Gordon Banks from the 1970 World Cup, scooping away Haaland’s Pele-esque downward header. The Spaniard then got his legs in the way of one from Josko Gvardiol as the intensity built on.
Soaking up the pressure, Arsenal were increasingly happy for Walker, Gvardiol and Ruben Dias to have the ball around the edge of their box, over the likes of Gundogan or Silva. City were still mostly limited to shots from distance that were either blocked or never troubled Raya.
With moments left, it looked like City’s time had come when the ball dropped invitingly to Gvardiol. 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 game would continue until 99. And it was in the those extra moments when Stones made himself the City hero, capitalising on a rebound that fell at his feet. This time there was nothing that Raya could do to stop it.
