John Stones scored a dramatic equalizer deep into stoppage time, as Manchester City secured a 2-2 draw against a resilient 10-man Arsenal in an intense Premier League clash at the Etihad Stadium on Sunday.
The result ensured City remained at the summit of the table with 13 points from five matches, while Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal, who showed both resilience and frailty, dropped to fourth with 11 points.
City opened the scoring in the ninth minute, courtesy of a clinical finish from Erling Haaland.
The Norwegian striker latched onto a perfectly weighted through ball from Savinho, outpacing Arsenal’s defense before calmly slotting the ball past a sprawling David Raya.
Haaland’s celebration was restrained but confident, as City looked poised to dominate.
However, Arsenal responded emphatically. In the 22nd minute, Ricardo Calafiori stunned the home crowd with a thunderous strike from 20 yards out, finding the top corner with precision.
The goal, his first for the Gunners, came after Arsenal caught City off guard with a quick free kick, leaving Pep Guardiola fuming on the sidelines. His frustration boiled over as he kicked the dugout in disbelief.
The visitors took the lead just before halftime. Gabriel Magalhães rose above the City defense to power a header past Ederson from Bukayo Saka’s corner.
Arsenal’s determination was palpable, and their traveling fans erupted as they sensed a rare victory at the Etihad, a ground where they had not triumphed since 2015.
But the momentum shifted dramatically in the final moments of the first half when Leandro Trossard received a second yellow card for an act of dissent, kicking the ball away and delaying City’s free kick.
Reduced to 10 men, Arsenal faced an uphill battle to preserve their slender lead.
Despite their numerical disadvantage, Arsenal held firm, repelling wave after wave of City attacks.
Raya made a series of crucial saves, while the Arsenal defense, marshaled by William Saliba and Gabriel, put their bodies on the line to deny City a clear chance.
Just as it seemed the Gunners would hold on for a hard-fought victory, City’s relentless pressure paid off.
In the 98th minute, John Stones found himself in the right place at the right time, poking home from close range after a goalmouth scramble.
The equalizer sent the Etihad into raptures and left Arsenal players devastated, as two valuable points slipped through their grasp.
The pulsating encounter, more of a brawl than a tactical duel, underscored the intensity and unpredictability of the Premier League title race.
Both teams displayed moments of brilliance and grit, setting the stage for an enthralling season ahead.
