Manchester City vs Arsenal Report
Scorers: Haaland 9’, Stones 90+8’; Caliafori 22’, Gabriel 45+1’
Red Card: Trossard 45+8’
John Stones scored a dramatic 98th-minute equaliser as Manchester City salvaged a 2-2 draw against Arsenal at the Etihad Stadium. The result preserved City’s remarkable unbeaten home Premier League run, which now stands at 33 matches.
Haaland Reaches Landmark 100th Goal
The match, featuring two of the Premier League’s top contenders, began with Manchester City taking the lead inside the first 10 minutes.
Erling Haaland, once again demonstrating his lethal finishing ability, scored his 100th goal for the club. Savinho showcased great control, threading a pass through to the Norwegian striker, who used his pace to beat Gabriel Magalhães and slotted the ball ingeniously past David Raya at the near post. Shortly after, İlkay Gündoğan nearly doubled the lead, striking the post with a curling free-kick.
Arsenal Hit Back After Rodri’s Injury
City’s dominance took a hit after crucial midfielder Rodri was forced off with an injury. Arsenal quickly capitalized on the disruption, with Gabriel Martinelli setting up Riccardo Calafiori, who scored a stunning left-footed curler beyond Ederson.
Calafiori, making his first start for Arsenal, brought the visitors level with his impressive effort. Arsenal continued to grow in confidence, and soon after, Gabriel stormed past Kyle Walker to head in Bukayo Saka’s pinpoint corner, giving Arsenal a 2-1 lead.
Trossard’s Red Card Changes the Game
However, Arsenal’s momentum was halted just before halftime when Leandro Trossard was shown a second yellow card for kicking the ball away.
This sent Manchester City on the offensive after the restart, and they dominated possession throughout the second half. Despite being down to 10 men, Arsenal held firm as David Raya made several crucial saves.
The Spanish goalkeeper denied Haaland’s close-range header and later stopped a powerful shot from Joško Gvardiol.
Stones Saves City’s Unbeaten Home Run
City continued to apply pressure, and their persistence finally paid off in the 98th minute. After Raya palmed away Gvardiol’s effort, Mateo Kovačić’s shot was parried into the path of John Stones, who pounced on the rebound to score the equaliser.
Despite City’s man advantage for the entire second half, Pep Guardiola’s side had to settle for a point but remained in top spot, extending their unbeaten home run.
Conclusion: City Stay Top, Arsenal Left to Reflect
Pep Guardiola may have hoped for more, especially with City having a numerical advantage for the second half. However, the draw keeps City in first place and maintains their unbeaten home record.
Arsenal will leave the Etihad with bitter disappointment after letting their lead slip, but with 33 matches remaining in the Premier League season, they still have plenty of opportunities to challenge City’s grip on the title.
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