Manchester City escaped with a 2-2 draw against Arsenal after a dramatic last-minute goal by John Stones, keeping their unbeaten start to the Premier League season alive. Despite being down to 10 men for the entire second half, Arsenal nearly secured a rare victory at the Etihad Stadium, only to be denied by Stones’ 98th-minute equalizer.
City started strong, taking the lead in the 9th minute when Erling Haaland latched onto a through ball from Savinho and coolly slotted home. The Norwegian’s 10th league goal of the season and 100th for the club had City looking in control early on.
However, Arsenal fought back quickly, with Riccardo Calafiori unleashing a 22nd-minute rocket from distance, leveling the score. A defensive lapse from City allowed the Gunners to catch them off-guard with a quick free-kick, leaving Pep Guardiola visibly frustrated on the touchline.
Arsenal then took the lead just before halftime when Gabriel powered a header into the net from a Bukayo Saka corner, giving the visitors a 2-1 advantage going into the break. Moments later, Arsenal suffered a setback as Leandro Trossard received a second yellow card for delaying a restart, leaving them to play the entire second half with 10 men.
In the second half, City threw everything at Arsenal, piling on relentless pressure. They registered an incredible 28 shots – the joint-highest recorded in a single half in Premier League history – but Arsenal’s defense, led by goalkeeper David Raya, stood firm. Raya made crucial saves to deny City’s star players, including Josko Gvardiol, Bernardo Silva, and a powerful header from Haaland.
Arsenal looked poised to secure their first win at the Etihad since 2015, but City’s persistence paid off in the dying moments of the match. In the 98th minute, John Stones pounced on a loose ball in the box, poking it into the net to rescue a point for the defending champions.
Key Moments:
- Haaland’s Early Goal: The striker opened the scoring for City in the 9th minute.
- Calafiori’s Equalizer: A stunning long-range strike from the Arsenal midfielder in the 22nd minute.
- Gabriel’s Header: Arsenal took the lead just before halftime with a powerful header from Gabriel.
- Trossard’s Red Card: Arsenal reduced to 10 men after Trossard’s second yellow just before the break.
- Stones’ 98th-Minute Equalizer: City salvaged a point deep into stoppage time.
What’s Next:
The draw keeps Manchester City at the top of the Premier League with 13 points from five matches, while Arsenal, on 11 points, sits fourth. Both teams will take positives from the match but also know there’s room for improvement as the season progresses.
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