Manchester City v Arsenal LIVE: Result and final score as John Stones breaks defiant 10-man Gunners
Folllow all the action from the Etihad Stadium as Arsenal travel to title rivals Manchester City for a crunch clash in the Premier League
Manchester City and Arsenal shared a furious and dramatic 2-2 draw at the Etihad Stadium after John Stones’ 98th minute equaliser.
City took the lead when Erling Haaland struck early in the game and the champions looked in full control. But the game unravelled for Pep Guardiola’s side, first when Rodri came off injured on 20 minutes, and then when Arsenal defender Riccardo Calafiori swept home a stunning equaliser.
Gabriel then rose to power home a head and give Arsenal a 2-1 lead heading into half-time, but moments before the break the Gunners were reduced to 10 men in unusual circumstances when Leandro Trossard first clattered into City’s Bernardo Silva and then kicked the ball away in frustration.
City spent the entire second half attacking and left it very, very late to finally get the goal that denied 10-man Arsenal a huge victory.
Follow all the reaction from Manchester City v Arsenal in the live blog below.
Riccardo Calafiori scored on his full debut
Calafiori told Sky Sports: “This is a high-level game - it’s the Premier League and especially against Man City, but we did well. We deserved more, I think.”
Asked about his spectacular strike, the Italy international added: “I don’t have anything to say. It was a really good strike and I was so happy to help the team.
“At the end, we didn’t win the game, so I’m a bit sad and disappointed as well.”
Arsenal defender Riccardo Calafiori, whose goal dragged the visitors back into the game, felt they deserved more from it.
Kyle Walker frustrated by Arsenal equaliser
City captain Kyle Walker was frustrated about the Arsenal equaliser, having been left out of position after being called for a chat by referee Michael Oliver.
He told Radio 5 Live: “I’m not ever going to come on national TV, national radio and start slagging people off because there’s enough of that going on around in the world.
“What I’m saying is I’ve not gone over to the referee. Me and Bukayo (Saka) have not gone over to the referee - he’s called us over. So if I’m being called over to the referee, he then should wait and allow me to get back in position before the ball is then gone over my head.
“So if I go over to the referee by my own accord and I’m out of position, it’s my fault. But I’m in position, he’s called the two captains obviously to calm the players down. I’m walking back saying ‘Lads, concentrate, nothing stupid, make sure we get through this.’ The ball is then going over my head.
“Me and Mike have a very good relationship and I think he has a very hard job, especially at the top level. So that’s not me being critical of him. I know he has a hard enough job, he’s got 22 angry players screaming at him continuously.
“If he calls me over, if I go over of my own accord, fair enough. But for him to call both captains over and then not let me get back in position. If I was a goalkeeper, does he let me get back in my net? Of course. I’m a defender, I’m the first line of defence he should let me get back in and be set and then blow the whistle.”
Reporting from PA
Roy Keane reacts to Leandro Trossard red card
Roy Keane had a strong reaction to Trossard’s red card that forced Arsenal to completely change their tactics: Roy Keane discussing Leandro Trossard’s second yellow, said on Sky Sports: “If you’re on a yellow card, you try not to give the referee another chance to give you another yellow. He’s given the perfect opportunity.
“He has kicked the ball away, it’s not even a debate, you don’t need to watch it 30 times. He’s wrong, it’s a second yellow and it’s the height of stupidity.”
Rodri injury latest
Guardiola will be concerned that Rodri may have caused a recurrence of the hamstring injury he picked up at Euro 2024, which saw him miss the start of City’s season.
After the match Guardiola said he did not know the nature of the injury.
Manchester City rocked by Rodri injury
So many things happened in the match, but the injury to Rodri could have long-lasting implications for the club:
Manchester City were hit by a major blow in the first half of their Premier League title showdown with Arsenal when Rodri limped off with an injury.
Rodri, who has become a cornerstone of both City and Spain’s success in recent seasons and has propelled himself into the conversation for the Ballon d’Or, went down under minimal contact in the box, in what seemed to be an innocuous moment in the game.
After a lengthy break for treatment, Rodri was helped off the field by City physios, grimacing and signalling to manager Pep Guardiola that he needed to be replaced. Mateo Kovacic came on in his place.
Mikel Arteta ‘proud’ of Arsenal
Arteta told Sky Sports: “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 we went 2-1 up - it was a different story and I prefer not to make any comment about that [Leandro 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.”
Guardiola reveals whether he would have used the same tactics in Arsenal’s position
Guardiola told Sky Sports: “The most important thing in the second half is we didn’t conceded fouls. Because they wanted to stop the game, stop the game. I don’t know how many went down with cramp because it was such a demanding game. But we didn’t concede fouls and fouls with deliberate action.
“It was difficult because you can create and cross in the box but they have Calafiori, Ben White, Saliba, Thomas Partey, Declan Rice, Gabriel, it was difficult. There were ten players there.
“But we were so patient, right, left, right, left to find the shots and the actions. Raya made incredible saves, but we got what we deserved.
“Maybe I would have done the same [as what Arsenal did in the second half]. You have to ask to Mikel what are the tactics. But it was a long ball from Raya to Havertz who showed unbelievable strong, the second balls they go really well for them in front and behind.”
Arteta refuses to comment on Trossard red card
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta, said to BBC MOTD: “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 we went 2-1 up - it was a different story and I prefer not to make any comment about that [Leandro 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.”
Pep Guardiola on Arsenal’s title challenge
When asked about Arsenal being title-contenders, Guardiola told Sky Sports: “They are the biggest contender in the last two years.
“They are exceptional and we know it.
“They are able to do many, many good things.”
Arsenal’s 10-man masterclass didn’t beat Manchester City – but it might have changed the title race
It was the last kick of a ball by a Manchester City player, John Stones latching on to the rebound after Jakub Kiwior had flung himself into the path of Mateo Kovacic’s shot, just beating the heroic David Raya. Arsenal were seconds away from a statement win, from a seismic victory. Instead, a 98th-minute goal extended City’s unbeaten run at home to 48 games. Their gap to Arsenal remained at two points. After extraordinary drama, nothing changed. And yet, at various points, in different ways, it felt as though everything had.
As Arsenal’s previous trip to the Etihad Stadium brought a 0-0 draw, the scoreline may not suggest they produced a defensive masterclass. Yet they did: a magnificent rearguard action almost brought the ultimate reward, in the sort of result that would reshape a season. As it was, they channelled the spirit of George Graham’s sides in an epic display of obduracy, only to receive a reminder that even when City feel uninspired – and perhaps because Arsenal made them look uninspired – they still had not killed them off.
Arsenal’s 10-man masterclass didn’t beat City – but it did change the title race
Manchester City 2-2 Arsenal: An enthralling, fiercely competitive game was drawn after John Stones’ late goal ended the 10-man Gunners’ stubborn resistance
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