John Stones' dramatic 98th-minute equalizer secured a 2-2 draw for Manchester City against Arsenal in a fiery Premier League clash on Sunday. Despite being down to 10 men for the entire second half, Arsenal came agonizingly close to handing City their first home loss since November 2022.
Leandro Trossard's red card late in the first half left Arsenal a man down, but they nearly held on for the win. The draw, however, was enough for City to regain the top spot in the league, moving two points clear of fourth-placed Arsenal.
City got off to a strong start, with Erling Haaland scoring his 100th goal for the club just nine minutes into the match. Pep Guardiola's side appeared to have control, but Arsenal responded with resilience. Riccardo Calafiori leveled the score with a stunning long-range effort, followed by a powerful header from Gabriel Magalhaes on a set piece, giving the Gunners a surprising lead.
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The match was heated from the outset, with tensions flaring early when Kai Havertz collided with Rodri, leaving the City midfielder needing treatment. Guardiola had noted City’s advantage of an extra day's rest, having played their midweek Champions League match at home, while Arsenal had traveled to Italy for their draw against Atalanta.
Haaland, who had been kept quiet by Arsenal last season, broke through quickly, slotting home from a Savinho pass to put City ahead. Ilkay Gundogan nearly doubled the lead but hit the post with a curling free-kick. City’s momentum faltered when Rodri was forced off with a knee injury, and just moments later, Arsenal equalized through Calafiori’s superb strike.
Arsenal’s Gabriel, who had scored the winner in their previous match against Tottenham, proved a menace once again, scoring from another Bukayo Saka corner. However, just before halftime, Arsenal's fortunes shifted when Trossard was sent off for a second yellow card.
Despite being down a man, Arsenal defended bravely, with David Raya making crucial saves to deny Haaland and City’s defenders. But the relentless pressure paid off for City when Stones bundled in the equalizer from a Jack Grealish cross in the dying moments, keeping City’s unbeaten home streak alive and adding drama to the title race.
