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.
Arsenal injury update round-up: Martin Odegaard, Mikel Merino plus Leandro Trossard’s suspension
Arsenal and Manchester City may have had to settle for a very late draw at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday, but the Gunners did at least appear to come away from the Premier League showdown without any fresh injury headaches.
The same cannot be said for City, who were hit by a potentially major blow when Rodri limped out of the game midway through the first half. Rodri had already missed the start of the season with a hamstring injury, and suffered a worrying knee knock which forced him off.
However, the Gunners remain without two key figures in midfield, as well as two injured full-backs, ahead of a busy run of fixtures which includes the Champions Legue and Carabao Cup alongside the usual Premier League churn, and now have to contend with the suspension of Leandro Trossard after he was needlessly sent off at City.
Arsenal injury update round-up: Martin Odegaard, Mikel Merino and more
The Gunners are still missing several players through injury including captain Odegaard, and Mikel Arteta will now miss forward Trossard for one game
Rodri injury: Latest news, return date and what Pep Guardiola said on Man City blow
Manchester City are sweating on the fitness of Rodri after the influential midfielder limped off their 2-2 draw against Arsenal on Sunday.
The European champion with Spain and Ballon d’Or contender was replaced in the 20th minute of the contest at the Etihad after appearing to hurt his right knee.
Rodri was pivotal as City won a fourth consecutive Premier League title last campaign and, for club and country, has just one defeat in the last 18 months.
The 28-year-old is set to undergo a scan on the injury early this week and Pep Guardiola was concerned following the fiery draw against title rivals Arsenal.
Rodri injury: Latest news, return date and what Pep Guardiola said on Man City blow
Guardiola was concerned as Rodri limped off during the fiery 2-2 draw against Arsenal
Erling Haaland provokes Mikel Arteta with two-word message during fiery handshake
Erling Haaland told Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta to “stay humble” in a fiery post-match handshake after Manchester City rescued a 2-2 draw in a heated clash at the Etihad.
Haaland slapped Arteta on the back as he told the Arsenal boss to “stay humble, eh, stay humble” after the full-time whistle.
Arteta turned around to face Haaland after hearing the comment and stared at the Norwegian striker, but then walked away.
Erling Haaland provokes Mikel Arteta with two-word message during fiery handshake
Haaland told Arteta to ‘stay humble’ after Manchester City rescued a 2-2 draw against their title rivals
Bernardo Silva and Man City players taunt Arsenal over lack of trophies
Manchester City’s Bernardo Silva appeared to mock rival Arsenal players over their lack of trophies - before taking aim at the Gunners’ tactics during the fiery 2-2 draw in the Premier League on Sunday.
Silva accused Arsenal of “dark arts” and said Mikel Arteta’s side wasted time as they held on with 10 men after Leandro Trossard was sent off on the stroke of half time. City equalised through John Stones in the 98th minute.
Afterwards, both teams clashed in the middle of the pitch with Silva appearing to taunt Arsenal’s lack of trophies by forming a ‘0’ with his thumb and forefinger and holding it towards defender Gabriel.
Bernardo Silva and Man City players taunt Arsenal over lack of trophies
Emotions were high after the 2-2 draw at the Etihad
Pep Guardiola on emerging rivalries
He told Sky Sports: “We have created a good rivalry with Arsenal. Before it was with (former Liverpool boss) Jurgen (Klopp) and now it’s there, so it’s a different way.
“We started the game how we started, a little bit delayed after two seconds, and there were many things. They have personality, but we have too.
“Many things happened, but at the end we equalised, which we deserved.”
Pep Guardiola was convinced his side deserved their late equaliser.
Mikel Arteta on Leandro Trossard’s red card
Gunners boss Mikel Arteta was unhappy over Trossard’s second yellow card, but declined to elaborate.
He said: “It’s not my job to come here and judge what happened. My job is to survive in the most difficult environment you can be thrown into in football for 55 minutes and try to get things done to survive. That was my job.
“The rest is out of my job and it is already the second time it has happened in five games, which is really, really worrying if you want to see the best Premier League.”
No one can doubt Arsenal’s spirit, but questions remain about their credentials
A draw that felt like a defeat for Arsenal in the moment, and from a match - and especially a climax - that certainly didn’t feel like a mere Premier League match in September. Everyone knew the stakes were much higher.
Through that, it actually felt like a Champions League semi-final, and occasionally looked like one, too. Specifically, Jose Mourinho’s Internazionale against Pep Guardiola’s Barcelona in 2009-19.
Unlike that famous match, the Catalan this time got the late goal he desperately desired. Manchester City showed their admirable spirit, that has carried this squad through a lot of controversies over the past few years. This game was the very best of the Premier League in purely football terms, even if it was underscored by all manner of modern football issues. The very consequence of the result could be changed by the hearing. City insist upon their innocence. The actual team plays on through it, as Guardiola has instilled them with this relentlessness.
No one can doubt Arsenal’s spirit, but questions remain about their credentials
Manchester City 2-2 Arsenal: The Gunners showd a renewed spirit against the best attacking side of the last decade
Manchester City 2-2 Arsenal player ratings
ARSENAL
DAVID RAYA: Just days after his Champions League heroics against Atalanta, produced a string of important saves. 9
JURRIEN TIMBER: Another impressive showing from the defender, who shone at Tottenham last week. 8
WILLIAM SALIBA: Quietly assured throughout, keeping his head during intense pressure. 8
GABRIEL: Looked a little rattled during City’s rapid start but regained his composure, with the set-piece star powering Arsenal ahead from a corner. Defended brilliantly in the second half. 9
RICCARDO CALAFIORI: A difficult afternoon could have been in store after losing Savinho before Haaland’s opener, but he levelled with a stunning strike. The summer signing defended resolutely. 8
THOMAS PARTEY: Positioning slightly off in the first half, irking some Arsenal staff. But kept his cool and helped batten down the hatches. 7
DECLAN RICE: Back after serving a one-game ban, he kept things ticking over in midfield and showed his defensive qualities. 8
BUKAYO SAKA: Arsenal’s skipper for the day, his fine corner brought Gabriel’s goal. Trossard’s sending off saw him withdrawn at the break. 7
GABRIEL MARTINELLI: Provided assist for Calafiori’s exquisite effort and gave Walker a torrid time in the first half. Remained diligent when defence became the order of the day. 7
LEANDRO TROSSARD: One of three changes at the Etihad Stadium, the busy forward was booked for clipping Savinho and sent off for kicking the ball away after barging into Bernardo Silva. 5
KAI HAVERTZ: Not at his attacking best but a solid performer with Arsenal’s backs against the wall. 7
SUBS:
BEN WHITE (for Saka, 46): Brought on to help firm up the backline following Trossard’s sending off, making a back three and helping keep City at bay. 7
JAKUB KIWIOR (for Calafiori, 74): Fresh legs in a backline tested mentally and physically. 7
GABRIEL JESUS (for Martinelli, 87) N/A
MYLES LEWIS-SKELLY (for Timber, 90+2) N/A
John Stones: Clever or dirty, we know what to expect from Arsenal
Manchester City’s saviour John Stones said Arsenal have become one of the hardest teams to face because Mikel Arteta’s side are so adept at using the darker arts of the game.
Arsenal used every trick in the book as they hung on to a 2-1 lead for virtually the entire second half with 10 men after Leandro Trossard was sent off for kicking the ball away.
But substitute Stones popped up in the eighth minute of stoppage time to equalise and preserve City’s near two-year unbeaten run at home in the Premier League.
It was a huge relief for City who returned to the top of the table, two points ahead of rivals Arsenal who slipped to fourth.
In truth, City looked woefully short of ideas as Arsenal played with 10 men behind the ball, their usual slick passing game bogged down by Arsenal’s red wall.
“They’ve done it for a few years, and we know to expect that,” defender Stones, who played more like a centre forward when he came on, told Sky Sports.
“You can call it clever or dirty, whichever way you want to put it, they break up the game and obviously upset the rhythm for everyone. They use it to their advantage.
“I thought we dealt with it really well. It’s not easy. When those things are happening, you’re trying to gain momentum. You’re trying to get a foot into the game and get above them.
“Those little stoppages stop that. We controlled our emotions really well.”
Via Reuters
Manchester City 2-2 Arsenal player ratings
MANCHESTER CITY
EDERSON: Could do nothing to stop Riccardo Calafiori’s opener and may well feel aggrieved that a block on him for Gabriel’s header was not called. 6 (out of 10)
KYLE WALKER: His second start of the campaign began poorly, although he was justified in being annoyed that a quick free-kick was allowed to be taken with him out of position. Improved in the second half. 5
RUBEN DIAS: A solid defensive option that became part of a 10-man attack. Guilty of some poor, desperate shots. 6
MANUEL AKANJI: Another pushed all the way up in search of a leveller. Moved the ball well. 7
JOSKO GVARDIOL: Not as effective as he can be but did little wrong. 6
RODRI: Looked to have picked up a potentially nasty injury in an innocuous coming together with Thomas Partey in the opening period. 5
ILKAY GUNDOGAN: Brought in for just his second start of the season, he struck the outside of the post with a free-kick. Popped up everywhere. 6
SAVINHO: Brilliantly burst away from Calafiori before slipping Haaland in to open the scoring in the ninth minute. A livewire that was blunted after the break. 7
BERNARDO SILVA: A thorn in Arsenal’s side whose movement between the lines proved a nuisance. 7
JEREMY DOKU: Looked livelier after a quiet first half, but could not find a way past Arsenal’s low block. 6
ERLING HAALAND: Clocked up his 100th goal for the club in a blistering start and was a physical presence, but service was largely lacking against a miserly backline. 7
SUBS:
MATEO KOVACIC (for Rodri, 21): A fine midfielder unable to truly make his mark. 6
PHIL FODEN (for Doku, 70): Brought on to spark a comeback but toiled like his team-mates. 6
JOHN STONES (for Walker, 78): A fresh pair of legs that finally found the breakthrough at the death. 7
JACK GREALISH (for Savinho, 78): A creative force that was mostly nullified. 6
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