MAN CITY 2, ARSENAL 2
Manchester City took until the 98th minute to break the spirit of 10-man Arsenal who had looked set to inflict a first home defeat since November 2022.
Substitute John Stones came up with the last-gasp goal which keeps City top, though they dropped their first points of the season after a captivating and often feisty clash of the Premier League’s top two teams.
It attracted such interest that 15 overseas broadcasters were present at the game which was screened to a worldwide audience which received box office entertainment in a match which had everything.
Erling Haaland gave City the perfect start scoring his 100th goal in his 105th match to equal the Cristiano Ronaldo’s record for Real Madrid.
Arsenal hit back with goals from debutant Riccardo Calafiori and Gabriel to stun City.
But there was a seismic shift in stoppage time when Arsenal were reduced to 10 men after Leandro Trossard picked up two bookings in quick succession.
City were unable to make their extra man count until Stones’ late leveller as the Gunners gave a heroic defensive display.
Arsenal only had 12 per cent possession in the second period and faced 28 shots but they defended with two banks of five and four with no attacking outlet.
City manager Pep Guardiola took positives from his side’s display against a team he described as one of the best in the world.
“We still had the passion of the last two years against the contenders who want to steal our Premier League [title].
“They defended so deep but give credit to Arsenal for the way blocked crosses and shots which was not easy to do
“We scored at the end, and it was a good point for us against an exceptionally tough team.”
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta said: “I am so proud of the team. We played the game in a difficult context. Playing against the best team in the world.
“After what happened when we went 2-1 up – it was a different story and I prefer not to make any comment about that [Trossard’s red card].
“Obviously, it is already a miracle we played 56 minutes at the Etihad with 10 men. It is unbelievable what we have done.
“It is obvious what happened when they made that decision, but it doesn’t deserve my comment. I don’t want to ruin anything else off the pitch.
Embed from Getty Images“The way the team competed was unbelievable and I am so proud of them the way they handled it.
“We are gutted as we put our heart and soul into it only to be punished in the 98th minute.”
The absence of Kevin de Bruyne was a big blow for City after he was injured against Inter Milan in the Champions League as Guardiola hoped the pace and width of Jeremy Doku would stretch Arsenal.
That was the only change from the side which kicked off against Inter.
Arteta made a big call by handing Italy defender Riccardo Calafiori his full debut with Ben White dropping down the bench, something of a surprise.
Trossard started with former City striker Gabriel Jesus on the bench along with another former Etihad team-mate Raheem Sterling.
Declan Rice, predictably, was back after a one-game domestic ban.
Theren was drama straight from the kick when Rodri went to ground after being barged in the chest by Kai Havertz after only five seconds resulting in a two-minute stoppage.
Haaland then clattered into William Saliba as it was certainly feisty.
City had the first chance in the seventh minute with Ilkay Gundogan volleying well wide from Bernardo Silva’s cross.
But they were ahead two minutes when Haaland netted his 100th goal.
Kyle Walker and Savinho linked with the latter’s precision pass releasing Haaland who sprinted clear to slot a shot low past keeper David Raya.
They almost doubled their lead when Gundogan whipped a free kick around the defensive wall and struck the upright with Raya well beaten.
Rodri was forced off after 20 minutes with a knee injury after being clattered into by Thomas Partey as he was replaced by Mateo Kovacic.
Arsenal were level immediately when Gabriel Martinelli cut the ball back from the left for Calafiori to hit a screamer from an angle high into the far corner of the net.
City were incensed as Arsenal had taken a quickly taken free kick in the build up to the goal with Guardiola kicking a seat on the bench as he was incandescent with rage.
Arsenal came close to taking a 38th minute lead when Gabriel headed narrowly over from Bukayo Saka’s corner.
The Gunners took the lead in the first of six added minutes which became almost 10.
City failed to learn from an earlier let off when Gabriel headed home Saka’s corner from almost on the goalline.
And there was further drama when Leandro Trossard was sent off for picking up a second booking for delaying the restart as he kicked the ball away after committing a foul on Bernardo Silva.
Arsenal sacrificed Saka for the restart as Ben White was brought on.
It was attack versus defence at the Gunners lined in 5-4-0 with their attacking options limited.
City were starting to create chances as Walker’s drive, Haaland’s header and Josko Gvardiol’s fierce shot were all well kept out by Raya.
Guardiola’s second change with 21 minutes left saw Doku replaced by Phil Foden.
There were a further two with 12 minutes left, John Stones and Jack Grealish replacing Walker and Savinho.
Raya made another brilliant stop to keep out a volley from Gvardiol in the 87th minute.
The keeper’s luck in the eighth of seven added minutes when Stones struck – almost 10 were played as a result of the Gunners’ time-wasting which was hardly surprising given their predicament.
Grealish fired over a cross following a corner and Foden’s shot was blocked only to ricochet to Stones found the net to break Arsenal’s 10 men resistance after a heroic defensive display in the second period with a numerical disadvantage against a team of City’s calibre.