In the midst of mayhem and controversy, John Stones raced home an equalizer seconds before time ran out to deny Arsenal a historic victory over Manchester City at Etihad Stadium.
After Leandro Trossard was sent off in the first half, Arsenal mounted a fantastic comeback.
Coming within a few minutes of what was likely the best moment under manager Mikel Arteta.
However, substitute Stones forced in the goal after a skillfully executed short corner at the end of seven minutes of added time.
The Gunners, who took an early lead thanks to Manchester City’s 100th goal from Erling Haaland.
Will feel both satisfaction and sorrow after turning the tide of a nail-biting match to take the lead just before halftime.
Moments after City’s key player Rodri went down with a knee injury after 21 minutes.
Boss Pep Guardiola’s emotions were further soured when Arsenal’s Riccardo Calafiori finished high and angled past Ederson a few seconds after.
Seconds into first-half stoppage time, Gabriel headed home a corner at the far post.
Demonstrating Arsenal’s mastery of set pieces once more.
This goal was a duplicate of his winning effort against Tottenham last week.
The most controversial incident occurred just before halftime when.
Trossard of Arsenal received a second yellow card for kicking the ball away.
The visitors felt that this was unfair because Jeremy Doku of City had not been sent off for a similar offense.
It created the conditions for a City siege after the break.
But Arsenal defended with bravery, tenacity, and organization, helped by goalkeeper David Raya’s heroics.
Only to be denied just in time to prevent the champions from suffering their
first home Premier League loss since Brentford triumphed at Etihad Stadium in November 2022.
Stones’s spectacular save keeps City atop the Premier League.
Arsenal wins the title despite a setback.
Even though Arteta defeated Chelsea in the FA Cup final in 2020.
This would have been his greatest managerial triumph if they had held on for a few more seconds in a thrilling match at Manchester City.
The Gunners were outstanding in defending a 2-1 advantage.
But their task was made more difficult by Trossard’s stupid kick away of the ball seconds before halftime.
Which effectively invited a second yellow card from referee Michael Oliver for a reckless shove into Bernardo Silva.
Ben White came on as a defensive reinforcement at halftime, replacing Bukayo Saka.
But Arteta’s team was masterfully drilled and played without showing any signs of panic as the.
Premier League champions grew more and more desperate to find an equalizer. City camped out in the Arsenal half in what turned into an exercise in attack against defense.
It was maybe inevitable that Arsenal would only be broken down in a heap of corpses and a last-minute scramble at a corner.
But keeper David Raya was faultless once more as he controlled his area and rejected all of City’s assaults.
Though it was unnecessary for the Belgian to put Arsenal under the kind of pressure they were ultimately unable to withstand.
Arteta and his players could legitimately point out.
As they did when Declan Rice was recently sent off for a second yellow card after kicking the ball away against Brighton.
That Oliver’s failure to punish Doku for doing the same thing earlier in the first half was inconsistent.
With the lead, Arsenal was leading and facing a City team without their star player Rodri due to an early injury.
The Gunners, who had presented a genuine offensive threat, were left with a difficult assignment.
Undoubtedly, Arsenal has demonstrated their resilience and fortitude in this championship match,
As they did when triumphing over Aston Villa and Tottenham.
They have forced City to the brink of elimination and are just a few seconds away from their first victory at Etihad Stadium since January 2015.
Man City and Guardiola are constantly tense.
The wildly animated manager of Manchester City, Pep Guardiola.
Guardiola was eager to deliver an early psychological blow because he knows that Arsenal, and his former assistant Arteta.
Pose the greatest threat to City’s hopes of winning the Premier League for a fifth time in a row.
After nine minutes of intense pressure paid off with a clinical finish from Haaland.
Marking his 100th City goal in 105 appearances, he let out a crazy fist pump towards the City supporters.
When Calafiori equalized, Guardiola lost his cool.
It was unclear if this was because Arsenal had gained an advantage through a hasty free kick or because his players had been badly read.
With Kevin de Bruyne out with an injury, Guardiola’s team was without their typical fluidity.
And it took all of City’s patience to ultimately make that late breakthrough when it looked all was gone.
Arteta and his players could legitimately point out.
The extent of Rodri’s injury will be closely monitored by City
as he seemed to twist his knee during a collision with Thomas Partey at a corner.
The brilliant midfield, who represents so much to Guardiola’s team.
Had already been severely injured by Arsenal’s Kai Havertz’s shoulder seconds after the game began.
So it was a terrible experience for them all.
This match lived up to the excitement and anticipation.
With controversy, goals, and Guardiola’s celebration when Stones scored the game’s winning goal after
A game that left the players, managers, and spectators exhausted.
