John Stones equalised in the 98th minute to return Manchester City to the top of the Premier League and deny 10-man Arsenal the summit and their first win at Etihad Stadium in almost 10 years.
Centre-back Stones scrambled the reigning champions level after Mateo Kovacic’s shot was blocked to dash the Gunners’ hopes of a win many would have considered a statement result, having absorbed 24 attempts without reply during the second half following Leandro Trossard’s dismissal for kicking the ball away during first-half added time.
Gabriel had headed Arsenal in front from a Bukayo Saka corner for the second time in seven days shortly before Trossard was sent off for delaying the restart.
“CITY ARE OUT OF JAIL!” 🤯
John Stones gets Manchester City’s equaliser with mere seconds left to play! 💥 pic.twitter.com/owIr7jjkJn
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) September 22, 2024
The visitors, who equalised when Riccardo Calafiori curled in from outside the box after 22 minutes in reply to Erling Haaland’s ninth-minute finish, looked to have held off the Premier League top scorer and his notoriously potent team-mates before City came back through Stones at the last.
Man City vs Arsenal: Hosts rescue result
Despite City’s dominance after the break, Arsenal appeared to have completed one of the all-time great Premier League defensive displays, even looking comfortable at times as the feted attacking talents they faced seemed to struggle to find ideas in their bid to break them down.
“Saka takes… GABRIEL’S IN THERE!” 🔗
Arsenal lead at the Etihad! 🔴 pic.twitter.com/MdliWu94MY
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) September 22, 2024
An abundance of controversy has already embroiled Trossard’s red card, the forward becoming the second Arsenal player to be sent off for kicking the ball away this season after Declan Rice suffered the same fate in their 1-1 draw at home to Brighton & Hove Albion.
While there is little doubt over the harshness of teams losing players over a benign act on the scale of red-card offences, referee Michael Oliver operated to the letter of the law, with Rice’s red perhaps serving as a warning of the risk involved.
“It’s a BEAUTY!” 😍
What a moment for Riccardo Calafiori! 🤯 pic.twitter.com/B56ZJC88mu
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) September 22, 2024
Rice acknowledged that he was at fault over his transgression, which arguably cost Arsenal at least two points. Manager Mikel Arteta – always an animated presence on the boundaries of his technical area – told BBC Radio 5 Live that Oliver’s call against Trossard had “destroyed the game”.
Arsenal can, undoubtedly, take enormous encouragement from thwarting City for so long, although that will be little consolation in the context of the pain of conceding so late.
Erling Haaland scores his 10th Premier League goal of the season and 100th goal for Manchester City! 🤯⚡ pic.twitter.com/SW3FLx1mJf
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) September 22, 2024
After Haaland raced on to Savinho’s pass to slot in his 10th goal of the season and 100th for the Cityzens, Arteta will have admired the character his players displayed to hit back and almost proceed to a famous win, despite admitting he was “gutted” not to have seen the result out.
Defender Calafiori’s strike was one of the highest quality, while Gabriel’s header again showed what a threat Arsenal are from set-pieces, having nodded in the only goal in their 1-0 win at Tottenham on September 15.
City return to action at home to second-tier Watford in the third round of the Carabao Cup on Tuesday (7.45pm BST), a day before Arsenal host third-tier Bolton Wanderers in the same competition (7.45pm).
