Manchester City’s John Stones, center, scores his side’s second goal during the English Premier League soccer match between Manchester City and Arsenal at the Etihad stadium in Manchester, England, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Dave Thompson)
Erling Haaland opened the scoring for the hosts before the Gunners edged ahead through goals from Riccardo Calafiori and Gabriel. John Stones denied Mikel Arteta’s men a famous win with his last-minute equaliser to pick up a point at home.
Premier League champions Manchester City salvaged a point at the Etihad as they pulled off a 2-2 draw against title aspirants Arsenal on Sunday.
Erling Haaland opened the scoring for the hosts before the Gunners edged ahead through goals from Riccardo Calafiori and Gabriel. Arsenal were reduced to 10 men as Leandro Trossard was sent off in the first half for additional time. John Stones denied Mikel Arteta’s men a famous win with his last-minute equaliser to pick up a point at home.
Haaland put City in front with his 100th strike in just 105 games for the club to put Pep Guardiola’s men ahead on home turf with the game still in its infancy.
But, Arsenal clawed their way back into the game as Italian Calafiori netted a screamer from outside the box with his left for his first goal for the Gunners on his first full start in red and white.
Arsenal stopper back Gabriel nearly put his side ahead in the 38th minute but couldn’t keep his header down off a corner into the box. But, the Brazilian made no mistake in pushing his team ahead with a goal in the first minute of first-half stoppage time with a headed effort into the net off a brilliant Bukayo Saka cross into the danger area from a corner.
Mikel Arteta was left fuming as Trossard was sent off for a second yellow in the eighth minute of the first additional time for a nudge on Bernardo Silva.
Down to 10 men, Arteta opted to withdraw Saka in favour of Ben White, making holding on to their advantage the top priority. David Raya stood steady to keep two powerful efforts from Josko Gvardiol out of the net as City kept knocking on the door.
City however managed to restore parity as Stones, who had come off the bench, put the ball in the back of the net in the seventh minute of second-half added time to retain the top spot in the table.
