Premier League: Ten-man Arsenal Denied Victory by 98th-Minute Man City Equaliser in Etihad Thriller
Manchester City returned to the top of the Premier League table after rescuing a 2-2 draw against 10-man Arsenal in a frantic Etihad Stadium affair on Sunday afternoon.
It is fair to say that the first 45 minutes alone was a more enthralling spectacle compared to the goalless stalemate played out between these two teams in March of last season.
Erling Haaland failed to score in either Premier League encounter with Arsenal last season, but he needed just nine minutes to poke home City’s opener on Sunday, moving him onto 10 top-flight goals for the season and 100 goals in just 105 appearances for the Citizens.
Pep Guardiola’s men are sure to be sweating over the fitness of lynchpin Rodri, who was forced off with an apparent knee injury just a minute before Riccardo Calafiori place a beautiful side-footed equaliser into the far corner on his first Premier League start.
Gabriel Magalhaes was then celebrating his second goal in as many games as he towered above City’s backline to head home Bukayo Saka’s corner – almost a carbon copy of his goal in last weekend’s North London derby win – but Arsenal ended the half down to 10 men as Leandro Trossard was sent off for two bookable offenses.
Mikel Arteta’s response for the second half was to bring on Ben White for Saka and defend deep with a back five, who gave everything to force City to take pot shots from the edge of the penalty area, as well as frustrate the hosts with time-wasting tactics.
David Raya – who was lauded for his Champions League heroics in midweek – was called into action to make several strong saves to deny the likes of Kyle Walker and Josko Gvardiol, keeping out a fiercely-struck volley from the latter with a brilliant diving save four minutes from time.
It was one-way traffic throughout the second half, and City’s persistence was finally rewarded in the 98th minute when substitute John Stones tapped home from close range, ensuring that the reigning champions extend their impressive unbeaten run at the Etihad across all competitions to 48 matches.
The draw for Man City means that their perfect start to the Premier League season has come to an end, but they have moved one point above Liverpool back to the top of the table, while Arsenal are down in fourth and two points behind the Citizens.
